Iran has officially lifted all restrictions on the range of its ballistic and cruise missiles, removing previous limits on how far its weapons can travel. The move significantly expands Iran’s potential strike capability at a time of heightened regional tensions.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Bakshayesh Ardestani, a member of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee, who confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued an order authorizing the removal of all range restrictions.
Until now, Khamenei had capped Iran’s missile range at approximately 2,200 kilometers (1,367 miles)—a distance sufficient to target Israel and U.S. bases across the Middle East. With the new decree, Iran is free to extend its missile reach far beyond that limit, potentially bringing parts of Europe and even the U.S. mainland within range, depending on future technological developments.
One immediate implication of this decision is that Iran’s missile range could now include the Diego Garcia Airbase in the Indian Ocean, a strategic U.S. and British military facility used for logistics and long-range operations. The island lies roughly 3,800 kilometers (2,360 miles) from Iran’s southern coast—previously beyond the reach of Iranian missiles.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated since March, when U.S. President Donald Trump sent a strongly worded letter to Khamenei warning against what he described as “destabilizing activities.” Following the exchange, satellite imagery indicated a buildup of U.S. B-52 bombers on Diego Garcia, raising concerns in Tehran about potential preemptive strikes.
The lifting of range restrictions could also enable Iran to target naval assets farther away in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, increasing its deterrence capabilities against U.S. and allied forces. Analysts say the move may also be intended as a show of strength amid continued threats from Israel, particularly following a series of strikes in Syria and Lebanon attributed to the Israeli military.
Reports from the region suggest Iran has begun reinforcing its defenses along the Strait of Hormuz, deploying anti-ship missile batteries on the Abu Musa and Tumb islands. The move is seen as both a defensive measure and a signal that Iran retains the capability to block maritime traffic through the strait—a vital chokepoint for global energy exports, with nearly one-third of the world’s oil shipments passing through it daily.