This device has a range of more than 1,450 kilometers and is capable of reaching a speed of almost 10,000 km/h.

The attack on Iran unites Israelis around Netanyahu

Iran has used its most powerful missile against Israel for the first time. This Sunday, the day after the US attack on three nuclear facilities, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the use of the Kheibar Shekan in an attack against Israel that involved a total of 40 solid- and liquid-fueled missiles, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA. In the same statement, they noted that the Iranian Armed Forces' capabilities are not yet fully operational, hinting at a greater attack capacity.

The Kheibar Shekan (also known as the Khorramshahr-4) is the fourth generation of the domestically produced Khorramshahr missile family, according to IRNA. It is the most powerful medium-range missile ever created by Iran. One of its main advantages is its launch speed thanks to the use of solid fuel, which allows it to be launched even from conventional vehicles in less than 15 minutes.

Furthermore, it has a range of 1,450 kilometers, which could reach up to 2,000, and is 4 meters long, employs multiple maneuverable warheads and is capable of reaching speeds of over 19,500 km/h outside the atmosphere and almost 9,800 km/h within it, making it difficult for enemy systems like Iron Dome or David's Sling to monitor and intercept it, even for American Patriots.

This missile was unveiled in June 2023, while the first generation of the Khorramshahr family was first tested in 2017. In between are the Khorramshahr-2, unveiled in 2019, and the Khorramshahr-3, although Iran has never publicly confirmed the existence of this missile, but some military officials have.

It uses satellite navigation and a novel guidance system, and is able to zigzag before reaching its target.

I.R.G.C. fires multiwarhead Kheibar missiles at Israel for first timehttps://t.co/CrQnSbqqmg

— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) June 23, 2025

History of the name

The name of the Kheibar Shekan missile means Breaker of Khyber, with a nod to the historic Battle of Khyber between Muslims and Jews in Arabia in the 7th century.

Steeped in Shiite history, this missile represents Iran's approach to the conflict with Israel. It was previously used in April 2024 and in October, in Operations Promise Sadiq 1 and 2.