Iran lifts ballistic missile range cap, vows to prove capabilities in combat

Iran has lifted restrictions on its ballistic missile range, previously capped at 2,000 kilometers, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which vowed to demonstrate the capability on the battlefield amid renewed US military activity in the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said Tehran would use asymmetric warfare to strike adversaries at unexpected locations, adding that capabilities must be proven in practice rather than through statements. The announcement followed US President Donald Trump's claim of limited strikes destroying an Iranian anti-aircraft system. Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island, which Mohebbi attributed to air defense exercises, claiming an American aircraft was hit. US officials have previously assessed that most Iranian air defenses were destroyed or weakened during Israeli bombardments in June 2025 and the current conflict.