What are Iran’s military capabilities – and how much of a threat is it?
Israel’s attack on Iran targeted the “heart” of the country’s nuclear programme – including its facilities, ballistic missile factories, and top military chiefs.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have said that Operation Rising Lion was “pre-emptive”. It was undertaken to stop Iran producing a nuclear weapon “in a very short time”, according to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Latest: Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear sites – and Iran responds
The attack came despite warnings from US President Donald Trump – who said intervention could “blow” US nuclear deal talks with Iran, which is believed to be rapidly advancing its nuclear programme.
Iran’s leader vowed to deliver “heavy blows” in response to the attack, and overnight on Friday launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, injuring dozens of people.
But what are Iran’s military capabilities – and to what extent do they pose a significant threat?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
IDF destroys Iranian ballistic missiles
The IRGC
The IRGC – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – was set up to provide extra protection to the Islamic regime in 1979, and is the dominant branch of the Iranian Armed Forces.
The Revolutionary Guard – which had several senior leaders killed in Israel’s strikes – oversees Iran’s ballistic missile programme.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Senior Iranian commanders ‘killed’
The IRGC, which answers to Iran’s supreme leader, has an estimated 125,000-strong military with army, navy and air units. Some analysts believe the figure is far higher.
It also commands the Basij religious militia, a volunteer paramilitary force loyal to the establishment and which is often used to crack down on anti-government protests.
Analysts say Basij volunteers may number in the millions.
The Quds Force is the IRGC’s foreign espionage and paramilitary arm that heavily influences its allied militia across the Middle East.
The IRGC, which is classified as a terrorist group by the US, wants to shape the Middle East in favour of Tehran.
In 1982, it founded Lebanon’s Hezbollah to export Iran’s Islamic Revolution and fight Israeli forces which invaded Lebanon that same year.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been in operation for more than four decades. File pic: AP
What are the IRGC’s military capabilities?
The IRGC has ground, air and naval capabilities – and oversees Iran’s ballistic missile programme, regarded by experts as the largest in the Middle East.
It has used the missiles to hit militants in Syria and northern Iraq.
The US, European nations and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for a 2019 missile and drone attack which crippled the world’s biggest oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia.
Iran denied any involvement in the assault.
The IRGC has its own intelligence wing and has extensive conventional combat hardware, which it showcased with its involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
Experts believe its stock of cruise and ballistic missiles has the ability and range to hit any target within the Middle East region.
According to the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region.
The IRGC’s naval forces carry out a missile launch as part of a military drill in 2023. File pic: Reuters
What do we know about the Iranian missile range?
The semi-official Iranian news outlet ISNA in April last year published details of missiles it said could reach Israel.
These included the Sejil, which is capable of flying at more than 10,500mph and has a range of 1,550 miles.
Another one, the Kheibar, has a range of 1,240 miles – while the Haj Qasem can reach targets 870 miles away.
Iran says its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the US, Israel and other potential regional targets. It denies seeking nuclear weapons.
Iran had previously said it had built an advanced homemade drone named Mohajer-10 with an operational range of 1,240 miles.
It can fly for up to 24 hours with a payload of up to 300kg (660lbs), the Iranians claimed.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
IDF destroys Iranian ballistic missiles
In the summer of 2023, Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and can take a complex trajectory, making them difficult to intercept.
The Arms Control Association, a Washington-based non-governmental organisation, says Iran’s missile programme is largely based on North Korean and Russian designs and has also received Chinese assistance.
It says Iran’s short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles include Shahab-1, with an estimated range of 190 miles.
Iran has cruise missiles such as Kh-55, an air-launched nuclear-capable weapon with a range of up to 1,860 miles.
An advanced anti-ship missile, the Khalid Farzh, with an approximate range of 186 miles, is capable of carrying a 1.1-tonne warhead.
An IRGC ground forces military drill in East Azerbaijan province, Iran, in October 2022. Pic: Reuters
How does Iran use other military groups?
Iran has been backing groups which have been attacking Israel, US interests, and Red Sea shipping.
This is in addition to its own rounds of retaliation with Israel, following post-October 7 2023 tensions in the region.
Built up over decades of Iranian support, the groups describe themselves as the “Axis of Resistance” to Israel and US influence in the Middle East.
The axis includes the Palestinian group, Hamas – but also the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and the Houthi movement in Yemen, alongside various armed groups in Iraq and Syria.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah was set up by the IRGC in 1982 with the aim of fighting Israeli forces which had invaded Lebanon that year.
The heavily armed group, also an influential political player, is widely regarded as more powerful than the Lebanese state.
Read more:
Israel attacks Iran and declares emergency over retaliation
Israel defied Trump and chose to act now – analysis
Global consequences for the Israel-Iran conflict
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
The Houthi movement established control over large parts of Yemen during a civil war, which began in 2014 when it overthrew the government, which was backed by Saudi Arabia – Iran’s main rival for regional influence.
The Houthis have long had friendly ties to Iran.
The movement announced at the end of October 2023 that it had entered the Gaza conflict by firing drones and missiles towards Israel – and later attacked shipping in the southern Red Sea.
The US believes the IRGC was helping to plan and carry out the Houthi missile and drone attacks, but Iran denies any involvement.
The Houthis deny being an Iranian proxy.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is shown an Iranian drone in Tehran in 2023. Pic: Reuters
What are Iran’s nuclear capabilities?
The UN nuclear watchdog’s board of governors has found that Iran has not been complying with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years – after it vowed to open a new uranium enrichment facility “in a secure location”.
The country’s supreme leader made clear in June 2023 how Western nations cannot prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons.
At the time, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a deal with the West was possible, but only if its nuclear infrastructure remained intact.
Iran has always denied having any intention to build a nuclear weapon.
They rose to their feet in ecstatic surprise, shouting “heydar, heydar” – a Shia victory chant.
This was the first public appearance of their supreme leader since Israel began attacking their country.
He emerged during evening prayers in his private compound. He said nothing but looked stern and resolute as he waved to the crowd.
He has spent the last weeks sequestered in a bunker, it is assumed, for his safety following numerous death threats from Israel and the US.
His re-emergence suggests a return to normality and a sense of defiance that we have witnessed here on the streets of Tehran too.
Earlier, we had filmed as men in black marched through the streets of the capital to the sound of mournful chants and the slow beat of drums, whipping their backs with metal flails.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Defiance on streets of Tehran
This weekend they mark the Shia festival of Ashura as they have for 14 centuries. But this year has poignant significance for Iranians far more than most.
The devout remember the betrayal and death of Imam Hussein as if it happened yesterday. We filmed men and women weeping as they worshipped at the Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine in northern Tehran.
The armies of the Caliph Yazid killed the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh-century Battle of Karbala.
Shiite Muslims mark the anniversary every year and reflect on the virtue it celebrates, of resistance against oppression and injustice.
But more so than ever in the wake of Israel and America’s attacks on their country.
The story is one of prevailing over adversity and deception. A sense of betrayal is keenly felt here among people and officials.
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Many Iranians believe they were lured into pursuing diplomacy as part of a ruse by the US.
Iran believed it was making diplomatic progress in talks with America it hoped could lead to a deal. Then Israel launched its attacks and, instead of condemning them, the US joined in.
Death to Israel chants resounded outside the mosque in skies which were filled for 12 days with the sounds of Israeli jets. There is a renewed sense of defiance here.
One man told us: “The lesson to be learned from Hussein is not to give in to oppression even if it is the most powerful force in the world.”
A woman was dismissive about the US president. “I don’t think about Trump, nobody likes him. He always wants to attack too many countries.”
Pictures on billboards nearby draw a line between Imam Hussein’s story and current events. The seventh-century imam on horseback alongside images of modern missiles and drones from the present day.
Other huge signs remember the dead. Iran says almost 1,000 people were killed in the strikes, many of them women and children.
👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈
Officially Iran is projecting defiance but not closing the door to diplomacy.
Government spokeswoman Dr Fatemeh Mohajerani told Sky News that Israel should not even think about attacking again.
“We are very strong in defence and as state officials have announced, this time Israel will receive an even stronger response compared to previous times,” she said.
“We hope that Israel will not make such a mistake.”
But there is also a hint of conciliation: Senior Iranian officials have told Sky News that back-channel efforts are under way to explore new talks with the US.
Israel had hoped its attacks could topple the Iranian leadership. That proved unfounded, the government is in control here.
For many Iranians, it seems quite the opposite happened – the 12-day war has brought them closer together.
To the sound of mournful chants and the slow beat of drums, they march, whipping their backs with metal flails.
It is an ancient ceremony going back almost 14 centuries – the Shia commemoration of Ashura.
But this year in particular has poignant significance for Iranians.
The devout remember the betrayal and death of the Imam Hussein as if it happened yesterday.
Iranians gather ahead of Ashura
We filmed men and women weep as they worshipped at the Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine in northern Tehran.
The grandson of the Prophet Muhammad was killed by the armies of the Caliph Yazid in the seventh century Battle of Karbala.
Shia Muslims mark the anniversary every year and reflect on the virtue it celebrates – of resistance against oppression and injustice. But more so than ever this year, in the wake of Israel and America’s attacks on their country.
The story is one of prevailing over adversity and deception. A sense of betrayal is keenly felt here by people and officials.
Men and women weeped as they worshipped at the Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine
Many Iranians believe they were lured into pursuing diplomacy as part of a ruse by the US.
Iran believed it was making diplomatic progress in talks with America, which it hoped could lead to a deal. Then Israel launched its attacks and, instead of condemning them, the US joined in.
“Death to Israel” chants resounded outside the mosque in skies that for 12 days were filled with the sounds of Israeli jets.
There is a renewed sense of defiance here.
One man told us: “The lesson to be learned from Hussein is not to give in to oppression, even if it is the most powerful force in the world.”
‘I don’t think about Trump. Nobody likes him,’ one woman tells Sky News
A woman was dismissive about the US president.
“I don’t think about Trump. Nobody likes him. He always wants to attack too many countries.”
Pictures on billboards nearby link Imam Hussein’s story and current events. They show the seventh century imam on horseback alongside images of modern missiles and drones from the present day.
Other huge signs remember the dead. Iran says almost 1,000 people were killed in the strikes, many of them women and children.
Officially Iran is projecting defiance, but not closing the door to diplomacy.
Government spokeswoman Dr Fatemeh Mohajerani told Sky News that Israel should not even think about attacking again.
“We are very strong in defence, and as state officials have announced, this time Israel will receive an even stronger response compared to previous times. We hope that Israel will not make such a mistake.”
Dr Fatemeh Mohajerani said it would be a mistake for Israel to attack again
But there is also a hint of conciliation. Senior Iranian officials have told Sky News back-channel efforts are under way to explore new talks with the US.
Israel had hoped its attacks could topple the Iranian leadership. Those hopes proved unfounded. The government is in control here.
For many Iranians it seems quite the opposite happened – the 12-day war has brought them closer together.
World
Two security workers injured after grenades thrown at aid site, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says
Two American security workers in Gaza were injured after grenades were thrown during food distribution in Khan Younis, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has said.
In a statement, the US and Israeli-backed aid group said a targeted terrorist attack was carried out at one of its sites in southern Gaza on Saturday morning.
The two Americans injured “are receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition,” it said, adding that the delivery of aid was “otherwise successful” and that “no local aid workers or civilians were harmed”.
GHF didn’t say exactly when the incident happened but claimed Hamas was behind the attack, adding: “GHF has repeatedly warned of credible threats from Hamas, including explicit plans to target American personnel, Palestinian aid workers, and the civilians who rely on our sites for food.
“Today’s attack tragically affirms those warnings.”
Later, the aid group posted a picture on social media, which it said showed “fragments of a grenade packed with ball bearings” that was used in the attack.
Asked by Sky’s US partner network, NBC News, whether the two injured individuals were responsible for handing out aid or were responsible for providing security, GHF said they were “American security workers” and “two American veterans.”
The aid group did not provide specific evidence that Hamas was behind the attack.
The US and Israeli-backed group has been primarily responsible for aid distribution since Israel lifted its 11-week blockade of the Gaza Strip in May.
Read more:
Hamas gives ‘positive’ response to ceasefire proposal
Outcry as Israeli strike hits school
94 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, health staff say
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
It comes after Sky News analysis showed GHF aid distributions are associated with a significant increase in deaths in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, 600 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid from GHF sites as of 3 July, which charities and the UN have branded “death traps”.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press has reported that Israeli-backed American contractors guarding GHF aid centres in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Contractors allege colleagues ‘fired on Palestinians’
GHF has vehemently denied the accusations, adding that it investigated AP’s allegations and found them to be “categorically false”.
Israel’s military added that it fires only warning shots and is investigating reports of civilian harm.
It denies deliberately shooting at any innocent civilians and says it’s examining how to reduce “friction with the population” in the areas surrounding the distribution centres.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike