Rising US-Iran tensions have heightened Pentagon concerns as Iranian ballistic missiles place most American military bases in the Middle East within striking range.
Escalating US-Iran tensions spotlight Iran’s missile capabilities, putting key American bases across the Middle East on high alert.
The Pentagon currently assesses military operations because Iran can attack most US Middle Eastern bases through its missile capabilities. The Iranian government has warned that it can launch missiles at any moment, which US officials interpret as a real threat that requires them to prepare for potential conflicts by developing worst-case scenarios for US military bases in the region.
Iran has developed its missile system into an essential component of its national defense. Through its investments in ballistic missiles, Iran has compensated for its weak air force capabilities. US media reports state that Tehran maintains approximately 2000 ballistic missiles, which include both short-range and medium-range missile systems. The missiles that Iran operates serve as its main defense system because they enable the regime to conduct military operations through three distinct ways of using power.
The Khorramshahr missile system operates at its maximum capability, which enables it to travel almost 2000 kilometers. The missile system reaches Israel while extending its range to all American military outposts throughout Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The Sejjil medium-range missile possesses identical capabilities, which enable it to target US military bases throughout Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, and Gulf countries.
The Emad and Ghadr-1 missiles, which can travel 1700 kilometers, extend their threat to bases located in Al Udeid, Qatar; Al Asad, Iraq; Al Dhafra, UAE; and Incirlik, Turkey. The Fattah-1 Haj Qasem and Kheibar Shekan systems represent newer technologies that enable Iran to conduct precision strikes with greater success rates.
The Dezful missile system functions as a short-range military weapon that can attack vital American military installations throughout Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and eastern Saudi Arabia, according to actual combat conditions.
Pentagon’s Strategic Challenge
Taken together, nearly all US bases in the Gulf lie within Iranian missile range, making Iran’s missile force a central concern for American military planners as regional tensions continue to simmer.
