Iran's Ministry of Defence has unveiled the Qasem Basir ballistic missile with a range of 1,200km, representing an upgraded version of the previously revealed Shahid Haj Qasem missile, Tasnim reported on May 5.

The unveiling comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States, which have threatened military action should ongoing diplomatic discussions fail. Israel also appears to be preparing military manoeuvres against Tehran following the May 4 missile strike from the Yemenis, which are believed to be supported by Tehran.  

According to published information, the Qasem Basir features significant improvements to the guidance and control systems of the Shahid Haj Qasem missile, which was first unveiled in 2020 with a 1,400km range.

The Haj Qasem missile is a two-stage solid-fuel tactical ballistic missile weighing 7 tonnes, with a 500kg warhead and 11-metre length. Its atmospheric entry speed reaches Mach 11, with an impact speed of Mach 5, falling within the hypersonic range.

The most significant enhancement in the Qasem Basir missile is its guidance system. While most Iranian ballistic missiles use combined GPS and INS (Inertial Navigation System) guidance methods, the Qasem Basir incorporates optical guidance technology, particularly thermal imaging cameras, which dramatically increases accuracy and is resistant to electronic warfare countermeasures.

"This guidance method allows the missile to accurately target small structures such as aircraft hangars without being affected by enemy electronic interference," the report states. The system was first developed for the Qadr-87 anti-ship ballistic missile, and later integrated into the Persian Gulf, Fateh Mobin, and Zulfiqar Basir missiles.

The new missile also features enhanced manoeuvrability through modifications to the warhead's guidance fins. This capability is particularly important as all missile defence systems worldwide are ineffective against missiles that can change course at supersonic speeds, as demonstrated by Iran's Fateh and Kheibar Shakan 2 missiles during Operation True Promise 2.

The missile can effectively target radar and defence systems, clearing the way for other Iranian ballistic missiles, making it a second anti-missile shield weapon alongside the Fateh missile. The Qasem Basir's improved accuracy allows it to precisely strike aircraft hangars and runways of Israeli air bases, potentially delivering a "serious blow to the Zionist regime's air power if deployed in large numbers."

Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh announced the successful testing of the new missile on May 4, stating that it was fired from a distance exceeding 1,200 kilometres.

He claimed the missile could identify a specific target among multiple options and strike it with metre-level precision, without relying on GPS navigation.

Nasirzadeh added that the new missile had been upgraded in terms of both guidance and manoeuvrability to penetrate defence layers, and asserted its resilience to electronic interference.

"In this test, a very severe electronic disruption was carried out against this missile, and it had no effect," he stated.

Nasirzadeh said that Iran possesses a substantial stockpile of missiles in underground storage facilities, and that in the event of war, previously unused weapons would be deployed against targets in the region without hesitation or consideration.

He maintained that Iran harboured no animosity towards neighbouring countries, but in the event of an attack on Iran, US bases located within regional countries would be considered legitimate targets.

He made the remarks in reference to Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth’s warnings of potential consequences from the US military for Iran’s “lethal” support of the Yemeni Houthis.

Nasirzadeh asserted that Yemen is an independent nation making its own decisions, and that the situation there was unrelated to Iran.