Iran Says Khorramshahr-4 Missile Placed in Underground Sites, Claims 10-Minute Reach to Israel

According to the state-run news agency, this marks the first operational deployment of the system in such facilities.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iranian state-aligned media reported Thursday that the Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile has been placed in underground Revolutionary Guard facilities, a move described as strengthening the readiness and survivability of Iran’s missile forces.

The report, carried by the Fars news agency, said the weapon is now stored in what Iran refers to as “missile cities,” hardened subterranean sites associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the agency, this marks the first operational deployment of the system in such facilities.

Fars described the Khorramshahr-4 as among the most powerful missiles in Iran’s arsenal.

The missile, first unveiled in May 2023 and also known as “Kheiber,” is categorized as a medium-range ballistic missile.

Open sources cited in the report characterize it as a single-stage, liquid-fueled system with a declared range of approximately 2,000 kilometers, placing much of the Middle East within reach.

The agency said the missile can travel at speeds reaching up to 16 times the speed of sound outside the atmosphere and around Mach 8 within it.

Based on those figures, the report claimed that a launch from Iranian territory could reach Israel in roughly 10 to 12 minutes.

Another capability highlighted in the report is the missile’s payload. The Khorramshahr-4 is said to be able to carry a warhead weighing between 1.5 and 1.8 tons, a factor presented as enhancing its destructive potential.

According to Fars, placing the missile in fortified underground locations is intended to provide what it described as a “second strike” capability.

The report suggested that these facilities are designed to ensure operational continuity even in the event of a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear or missile infrastructure.

The announcement forms part of ongoing Iranian messaging emphasizing the resilience and reach of its ballistic missile program, particularly in the context of regional tensions and discussions surrounding its military and nuclear capabilities.