Tehran escalates intimidation theater while Israel monitors exaggerated claims masking vulnerability, deterrence gaps, and regional instability.
State-aligned Fars News Agency reported that Iran has deployed its Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile inside underground facilities known as “missile cities,” operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The move is framed by Tehran as a readiness upgrade for its missile forces.
Iranian sources claim the missile reaches extreme speeds—outside the atmosphere and at hypersonic levels within—asserting a launch-to-impact timeline of roughly 10–12 minutes toward Israel. Independent analysts note that such figures often reflect aspirational messaging rather than verified performance.
First unveiled in May 2023 and dubbed “Kheiber,” the Khorramshahr-4 is described as a medium-range, liquid-fueled system with an advertised range near 2,000 kilometers and a heavy payload. Tehran touts underground basing as a “second-strike” survivability measure against preemptive action.
Israeli defense officials and regional observers emphasize that Iran’s publicized deployments are part of a psychological pressure campaign—one that does not negate Israel’s layered defenses, intelligence reach, and credible deterrence against any aggression.
