Iran Has the Missiles to Reach Ukraine—Here’s What Could Be Used

Iran possesses several classes of medium-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching Ukraine if launched from its own territory. The assessment comes after Tehran threatened retaliation following a reported Ukrainian strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.

According to Defense Express on July 27, Iran’s arsenal includes the Ghadr, Emad, Sejjil, and Khorramshahr ballistic missiles, with operational ranges extending from approximately 2,000 kilometers to 4,000 kilometers.

Iran’s current missile inventory includes multiple ballistic missile systems capable of striking targets across Ukraine without requiring launches from outside Iranian territory.

Among them are the Ghadr and Emad missiles, both developed from the Shahab-3 program. Defense Express reports that the liquid-fueled, single-stage missiles carry separating warheads weighing around 750 kilograms.

The newer Emad variant is equipped with a maneuverable reentry vehicle featuring aerodynamic control surfaces, a design intended to improve accuracy while making interception more difficult.

The publication also identifies the Sejjil as one of Iran’s most advanced medium-range ballistic missiles. Unlike Ghadr and Emad, Sejjil is a two-stage solid-fuel missile, allowing it to be prepared for launch more quickly.

According to Defense Express, it can deliver a 700-kilogram warhead to targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, while shorter-range configurations can carry payloads of up to 1,500 kilograms.

The most capable system highlighted in the analysis is the Khorramshahr. Defense Express states that the missile has variants with an estimated range of up to 4,000 kilometers, while its 2,000-kilometer configuration can carry a warhead weighing as much as 1,500 kilograms.

According to the outlet, Iran has also developed a cluster-type warhead for Khorramshahr capable of dispersing up to 20 submunitions over a wide area. Defense Express notes that this type of warhead has already been used during Iranian missile attacks against Israel.

The publication further assesses that intercepting missiles such as Ghadr, Emad, and Sejjil would generally require dedicated ballistic missile defense systems including THAAD, Arrow-2, or Arrow-3. It adds that Patriot has more limited capabilities against medium-range ballistic missiles, with effectiveness depending on factors including missile speed, flight profile, and terminal maneuvering.

For Khorramshahr, Defense Express says interception would also depend on when its submunitions separate from the main warhead, a characteristic that remains publicly unknown due to the missile’s limited combat use.

According to Defense Express, Iran’s stockpile of medium-range ballistic missiles has nevertheless been reduced by previous strikes against Israel as well as Israeli and US attacks on Iranian missile launchers, storage sites, and production facilities during Operation Epic Fury.

The assessment comes days after Ukraine’s Security Service said it had struck Russian vessels in the Caspian Sea allegedly involved in transporting military cargo from Iran, an operation that was followed by Iranian threats of retaliation against Ukraine.

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