Iran’s response to US military strikes could be launching missiles to hit key NATO allies like Germany and Italy; check its deadly arsenal

As tensions between Iran and the United States remain elevated, with Washington publicly reviewing military options and Tehran cautioning any offensive would trigger “all-out war,” an in-depth look at Iran’s operational missile forces reveals the scope of Tehran’s strategic reach. Iran possesses one of the largest and most diverse missile arsenals in the Middle East, with systems ranging from short-range battlefield rockets to longer-range ballistic and cruise missiles capable of threatening regional US military bases, naval assets, and allied states.

No Iranian missile has demonstrated the ability to strike the continental United States, but several deployed systems could have devastating effects on US forces and partners across the Middle East.

Iran’s capabilities could also be leveraged to threaten key NATO allies like Germany and Italy, either directly or indirectly through forward deployments, proxy launch sites, or layered escalation strategies.

Iran’s missile arsenal

According to the Missile Threat Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Iran fields a wide variety of operational missiles, ballistic, cruise, and other tactical weapons, many already integrated into its military doctrine:

Ballistic Missiles

Fateh family

• Fateh-110 (SRBM | 200-300 km | Operational)
  A solid-fuel, road-mobile missile widely used by Iran and its regional allies. Known for relatively high accuracy, it is suitable for tactical strikes on bases and infrastructure.
  
• Fateh-313 (SRBM | 500 km | Operational)
  An improved Fateh variant with extended range and better guidance, giving Iran the ability to hit targets deeper across the Gulf region.
  

Zolfaghar (SRBM | 700 km | Operational)
A longer-range evolution of the Fateh series, reportedly used in real combat strikes. It can reach US facilities in Iraq and parts of the eastern Mediterranean.

Qiam-1 (SRBM | 700-800 km | Operational)
A liquid-fuel missile derived from the Scud family, notable for its fin-less design, which complicates interception. It has been used in high-profile retaliatory strikes.

Shahab series

• Shahab-1 (SRBM | 285–330 km | Operational)
  An older system but still part of Iran’s inventory, primarily for short-range battlefield use.
  
• Shahab-2 (SRBM | 500 km | Operational)
  Improved range over Shahab-1, capable of striking regional targets.
  
• Shahab-3 (MRBM | 1,300 km | Operational)
  Iran’s first true medium-range ballistic missile, capable of reaching Israel and US assets across the Middle East.
  

Sejjil (MRBM | 2,000 km | Operational)
One of Iran’s most advanced missiles, featuring solid fuel and rapid launch capability. Its range places US regional bases and key allies well within reach.

Cruise missiles and precision strike weapons

Soumar (Cruise Missile | 2,000-3,000 km | Operational, Presumed)
A long-range land-attack cruise missile believed to be derived from foreign technology. If fully operational as assessed, it could threaten targets far beyond Iran’s immediate neighborhood.

Ya-Ali (Land-Attack Cruise Missile | 700 km | Operational)
Designed for precision strikes against fixed targets, offering Iran a low-altitude, radar-evading attack option.

Ra’ad (Anti-Ship Cruise Missile | 350 km | Operational)
Specifically intended to target naval vessels, including US warships operating in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.

Artillery and short-range systems

Tondar 69 (SRBM | 150 km | Operational)
A short-range ballistic missile useful for localized strikes near Iran’s borders.

Koksan M1978 (Artillery | 40-60 km | Operational)
A heavy artillery system rather than a missile, but included in Iran’s strike arsenal for saturation fire against nearby targets.

Space launch vehicles

While not weapons themselves, these systems demonstrate technological overlap with long-range missile development:

Safir (SLV | 350 km altitude | Operational)

Operational implications in US-Iran conflict

While Iran’s operational missiles cannot reach the US homeland, their ranges cover much of the Middle East, including US military bases in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, naval forces in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, and allied capitals such as Jerusalem and Amman.

The mix of ballistic and cruise missiles with solid-fuel propulsion, which allows quicker launch and repositioning, presents a multi-domain threat across land, sea, and potentially air defense networks.

Ballistic missiles such as the Shahab-3 and Sejjil could threaten bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE within minutes, while cruise missiles like Ya-Ali and Soumar could complicate defense systems by exploiting low-altitude flight paths and radar blind spots.

Anti-ship cruise missiles such as Ra’ad and more distant range cruise systems could endanger US carrier strike groups and amphibious forces, especially in chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz where Iran’s geography gives it strategic advantage.