Iran claims first successful test of intercontinental ballistic missile.

Iranian officials announced on Sept. 20, 2025, that the country conducted its first successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The claim heightens nuclear tensions as Iran rejects limits on its missile program while global leaders meet at the UN.

Iranian lawmaker Mohsen Zanganeh stated on September 20, 2025, that Iran had successfully conducted a “security test” of an intercontinental ballistic missile, describing it as one of the country’s most advanced systems that had not previously been tested. He made the announcement on state broadcaster IRIB, adding that Iran would not abandon uranium enrichment or its missile program even after repeated attacks on nuclear facilities.
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Unexplained trails of smoke and light were seen from Tehran, Gorgan, Sari, Semnan, and other regions on September 18, 2025, shortly before Zanganeh's statement of a successful ICBM test. (Picture source: Fars News Agency)

Zanganeh framed the test as proof that Iran was maintaining its strategic path under pressure and underlined that the missile launch was successful. His televised comments came as Iranian and foreign outlets circulated video evidence of luminous objects in the skies above Tehran and other cities, which were widely interpreted as signs of a missile launch. According to reports on September 18, 2025, unexplained trails of smoke and light were seen from Tehran, Gorgan, Sari, Semnan, and other regions.

Residents filmed arcs across the sky that were later shared widely on social media, while opposition-linked Iran International aired footage that appeared to show anti-air activity near Karaj. Local officials eventually confirmed that missile tests had taken place, though central authorities initially remained silent. At the same time, Iran’s Foreign Ministry reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had departed for New York to attend the opening of the UN General Assembly, reversing earlier domestic claims that he was traveling to Vienna for European talks. Revolutionary Guard statements following the tests warned that any miscalculation by adversaries would be met with a “deadly and instructive” response, framing the launch as part of a broader deterrence posture.

Additional details linked the test to the Semnan missile range, located approximately 219 kilometers east of Tehran, a site long used for Iran’s missile and space launches. Eyewitnesses described a dramatic nighttime launch with a roar and bright trail visible across the desert sky, while multiple videos appeared to show at least three rockets fired in the area, leading some residents to believe the country was in active military operations. Some analysts said the missile’s silhouette and launch characteristics could have resembled the Sejjil class, a two-stage, solid-fuel system with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, though lawmakers labeled the event an intercontinental test, which would imply a range exceeding 5,500 kilometers. Social media footage even suggested that one missile was engaged by anti-missile cannons as part of a test exercise, although no official confirmation was provided. Tehran maintained silence on the type of missile tested, consistent with its pattern of opacity around sensitive military developments.

Iran’s missile program already includes the Khorramshahr family, which traces its origins to the North Korean BM-25 Musudan design. The Khorramshahr-4, known as Khaibar, was unveiled in May 2023 as a fourth-generation system with a 2,000-kilometer range, a 1,500-kilogram warhead, and the ability to reduce preparation time by using storable liquid propellant. It also featured trajectory correction technology designed to improve accuracy. Discussion after the September 18 launch turned toward reports of a possible Khorramshahr-5, which Iranian sources claimed could reach 12,000 kilometers with a terminal speed of Mach 16, an airframe of around 12 meters, a launch weight of 14 to 15 tons, and a payload of up to two tons. Such performance would meet intercontinental criteria, though no official technical data or confirmed tests support these claims. Some analysts also pointed to Iran’s solid-fuel propulsion work, including the Salman motor with thrust vector control, as possible evidence of further progress.

Iran’s missile program began during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, when Iraqi Scud attacks prompted Tehran to acquire its own missiles from North Korea and to seek Chinese assistance. Over the decades, the program expanded into short-range Fateh systems, medium-range Shahab and Ghadr missiles, and the two-stage Sejjil solid-fuel platform. Tehran has also promoted its “missile cities,” underground facilities designed to protect launchers and improve survivability. These efforts, combined with public statements about precision strikes, form part of Iran’s long-term strategy of deterrence and denial. The September 2025 launch fits this pattern, serving both as a test of technical progress and as a political signal to adversaries and domestic audiences, while leaving many details deliberately ambiguous.

Attention has also recently turned to Iran’s space program. A 2019 U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report concluded that space launch vehicles could provide a test bed for ICBM development. Iran has pursued satellite launch vehicles such as Simorgh, and some observers argued that the September launch might have been connected to such programs. Analysts noted that while Tehran has achieved multi-stage launch capability, there is still no confirmed evidence of a fully developed ICBM, and large liquid-fuel systems remain vulnerable due to lengthy fueling processes and their visibility to adversaries. Nevertheless, Western governments have consistently voiced concern that Iran’s space efforts are dual-use and contribute to intercontinental missile research. Tehran, for its part, insists the program is peaceful and defensive.

Israeli and Western officials argued that any new agreements with Iran must include restrictions on missile development beyond the 300-mile range limit in the Missile Technology Control Regime. European governments pointed to the possibility that such missiles could reach southern or central Europe. Tehran dismissed these concerns as politically motivated and said negotiations remain open, but not on missile constraints. Iranian parliamentarians used the moment to call for a reassessment of defense doctrine. On September 22, seventy lawmakers signed a letter to the Supreme National Security Council requesting a review of nuclear weapons policy. Ahmad Naderi, a member of the presiding board, stated that withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, adopting nuclear ambiguity, and testing an atomic bomb might be the only way to ensure national security.

Domestic messaging also highlighted the missile program as a symbol of resilience and legitimacy. For instance, Iran's Revolutionary Guard spokespersons tied recent missile launches and the June war with Israel to narratives of deterrence, with claims that hundreds of Iranian missiles overwhelmed Israeli defenses, even as Israeli and U.S. sources reported high interception rates. Iranian officials compared the program to cultural legends, such as the story of Arash the Archer, to frame missile range as part of national identity. At the same time, accidents and sabotage at sites like Khojir, Semnan, and Shahroud illustrated the risks of parallel liquid- and solid-fuel development tracks. Open-source imagery identified hardened infrastructure and sloped silos optimized for solid-fuel systems. U.S. and Israeli assessments describe Iran as possessing the region’s largest and most diverse missile force, while also cautioning that its claims of high accuracy and overwhelming effects are often exaggerated.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.