Iran Threatens Ukraine, Possesses Missiles Capable of Reaching Ukrainian Cities, Report Says

Iran's Foreign Minister Ebrahim Azizi has issued a direct threat of retaliation against Ukraine, following an alleged strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. This ship is believed to have been involved in the transport of weapons and their components, raising concerns about Iran's role in arming other parties.

While Iran denies involvement and suggests Israel may have orchestrated the strike to draw Europe into a wider conflict, the incident brings attention to Iran's missile capabilities. Experts suggest that Iran possesses a range of medium-range ballistic missiles that could theoretically reach Ukrainian territory from northern Iran.

Missiles such as the Ghadr, Emad, and Sejjil have operational ranges of approximately 2,000 kilometers. The Khorramshahr boasts the longest range, estimated at around 4,000 kilometers. The Ghadr and Emad, developed from the Shahab-3, have liquid-fuel propulsion and can carry a warhead of about 750 kilograms. The Emad, a newer variant, features aerodynamic surfaces for mid-flight maneuvering, slightly reducing its range to about 1,800 kilometers as observed in a 2021 test.

The Sejjil, first tested in 2008, is a solid-fuel missile, allowing for quicker launch preparation. It is larger, with a launch mass of approximately 26.6 metric tons and a length of 17.6 meters. At a range of 2,000 kilometers, it can carry a 700-kilogram warhead, or up to 1,500 kilograms for a 1,000-kilometer range.

The Khorramshahr, demonstrated in 2017 and believed to be based on the North Korean BM-25 Musudan, exists in several modifications. A 2,000-kilometer version can carry a 1,500-kilogram warhead, while a longer-range variant, reportedly around 4,000 kilometers, likely carries a significantly lighter payload. Iran has developed a warhead for this missile that disperses numerous smaller explosive elements in mid-air, designed to saturate targets and challenge missile defense systems, a capability previously used against Israel.