Friday, June 20, 2025

Could Iran’s missiles carry nuclear warheads? An expert breaks down the threat

As Iran continues to launch missiles at Israel, a question looms large in the minds of defense analysts and civilians alike: If Iran’s nuclear program is able to advance, could those same missiles one day carry nuclear warheads? To understand the threat and the technology behind it, The Times of Israel spoke with Tal Inbar, a veteran expert in aviation policy, space, and missile issues. Inbar has spent decades tracking the development of missile systems in Iran, North Korea, and beyond.

According to Inbar, two basic features determine whether a missile can be equipped with a nuclear warhead: the weight the missile can carry (payload capacity) and the physical space inside the warhead compartment. “Every missile with a warhead of roughly 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) could theoretically be fitted with a nuclear warhead,” he explained.

This would include Iran’s Shahab-3 missile family — a series of medium-range ballistic missiles based on the North Korean Scud platform — and its more advanced variants such as the Ghadr and Emad, which have been used in the current conflict.“It’s not a huge technical problem,” Inbar said. “They already have missiles capable of carrying the necessary weight.”

The missiles Iran has fired at Israel thus far have a range of around 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles). But, Inbar notes, Iran’s capabilities go farther. “They have the ability to reach over 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) — at least with one type of missile, which they haven’t used yet,” he said.  (Read More)