Iran Places Missile Forces on High Alert Amid U.S. and British Threats

Following the assassination of Iranian Quds Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani in an American attack on January 3rd, the Iranian leadership has vowed retaliation leading to fears among the U.S. and its allies of potential strikes on their assets. A redeployment of American and British military assets to the Middle East has since been initiated, with a Royal Navy nuclear attack submarine positioned to strike Iran if required. According to an unnamed U.S. official cited by Reuters, Iran has since placed its missile forces on high alert - either in preparation for a strike or, more likely, to retaliate in the event of a further Western attack. The official stated regarding these missile forces: “They’re clearly at a heightened state of alert. Is that heightened state of alert to be better prepared defensively or to be better prepared offensively? That can’t be determined at this point. But we’re watching it closely.”

Iran deploys a wide range of ballistic missiles, the majority of North Korean origin, with larger platforms such as the Musudan, Shahab-3 and Khorramshahr providing a strategic deterrent capability while lighter platforms such as the Shahab-2 intended for tactical strikes. The Shahab -3 and Khorramshahr are capable of striking targets across the wider Middle East, while the Musudan acquired directly from North Korea from the mid 2000s can strike targets as far as Western Europe. All platforms are highly mobile and can be deployed from transporter erector launchers. Cruise missiles including the new Hoveyzeh long ranged platform are also deployed in considerable numbers. Iran has simultaneously removed restrictions on uranium enrichment at its nuclear facilities, which were previously put in place under the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal, opening up the possibility that it could develop nuclear warheads to mount on its Korean missiles. Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal is deployed under the Revolutionary Guard Corps, but the Iranian Air Force has also reportedly been placed on alert and carried out patrols of Western border regions with F-14 air superiority fighters.