Israeli sources have sounded the alarm over what they describe as a “serious warning to the world”, claiming that Iran secretly tested a long-range ballistic missile capable of reaching continents far beyond the Middle East. Satellite imagery revealed suspicious burn marks at the Imam Khomeini launch site, raising speculation of a concealed weapons test.
Satellite Evidence and Technical Analysis
According to the Associated Press, satellite images from Planet Labs clearly showed launch activity at a facility located around 230 kilometres southeast of Tehran. Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that the scale of the burn patterns suggests a solid-fuel missile launch, as aluminium oxide particles typically leave such traces.
Social Media and Official Silence
An Israeli daily, Maariv, reported that on 18 September, Iranian social media users shared mysterious images of the skies over Semnan province, showing what appeared to be a missile trail at sunset. Iranian authorities refused to comment, and state media — described as “visibly alarmed” — ignored the incident altogether.
However, the silence was broken by Iranian parliamentarian Mohsen Zanganeh, who unexpectedly declared on state television that the Islamic Republic had successfully launched one of its most advanced missiles — an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
A Potential Game-Changer
The report stressed that the missile in question could threaten the entire European continent if the claims are true. Current Iranian missile ranges, capped at 2,000 km under guidance from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, already cover the Middle East, including occupied Palestine and U.S. bases in the region. But an ICBM with a range exceeding 5,500 km would extend Iran’s deterrence capabilities into Europe.
Analysts also fear that the missile may rely on solid-fuel technology — the same capability used in satellite launch vehicles — raising concerns in Washington about Iran’s advancing technical expertise. The missile, reportedly named after a horse belonging to the mother of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), had previously alarmed U.S. officials for its sophistication.
Strategic Context and Regional Implications
Behnam Ben Taleblu, a Washington-based analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, argued that the test reflects Iran’s broader strategic vision. Speaking to the Associated Press, he said:
“Israel’s successes in the 12-day war against Iranian missile attacks reinforced for Tehran the urgency of developing more advanced ballistic weapons. This is part of Iran’s effort to rebuild stronger, and faster.”
The timing is notable: Iran is currently repairing missile facilities destroyed in past Israeli strikes, while the United Nations prepares to renew sanctions on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Questions Remain Unanswered
Despite the Israeli media warnings, uncertainty remains. Without official confirmation from Tehran, experts say it is difficult to determine precisely what was tested. The unstable trail observed could even indicate a failed launch. Furthermore, U.S. space officials did not record any new Iranian satellite launches that day.
Analysts suggest that Iran may have used the test as a signal to the West, demonstrating its resolve to continue missile development despite international sanctions and pressure. As Fabian Hinz observed:
“The problem with Iran is that so much is happening at once, it is difficult to distinguish between coincidence and established patterns.”
