What is Khorramshahr-4 missile? Did Iran use it against Israel?

Khorrhamshahr-4 or Kheibar ballistic missile developed by Iran

 The Khorramshahr-4 (also known as Kheibar) is an advanced medium-range ballistic missile developed by Iran, unveiled on May 25, 2023. It is an upgraded variant of the Khorramshahr missile series, derived from North Korea’s Hwasong-10 (BM-25) but modified by Iran for enhanced tactical and strategic capabilities. Key specifications include:

• Range: Up to 2,000 km, capable of reaching Israel, U.S. military bases in the region, and parts of Eastern Europe (e.g., Romania, Bulgaria, Greece) from western Iran.
• Warhead: Can carry a 1,500 kg guided warhead, with claims of multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) or cluster warheads capable of striking up to 80 targets in a single launch.
• Length: Approximately 17 m (13 m motor section + 4 m warhead).
• Propulsion: Uses hypergolic liquid fuel, allowing storage for up to 10 years and reducing launch preparation time to 12–20 minutes, compared to hours for older liquid-fuel missiles.
• Guidance: Features a mid-phase navigation system for course correction outside the atmosphere, making it resistant to electronic warfare jamming. It has a low radar cross-section (RCS) to evade detection and a claimed accuracy within 30 meters.
• Speed: Reaches Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and Mach 8 within, making interception challenging.
• Materials: Incorporates a stronger composite airframe for improved durability.

Iranian officials, including IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh and Deputy Defense Minister General Mehdi Farahi, have claimed the missile’s warhead is too fast for air defense systems like Israel’s Iron Dome or David’s Sling to intercept, and its isolated guidance system is immune to electronic countermeasures. They also suggest Iran is developing stealth technologies to further enhance its evasiveness.

Use Against Israel

The question of whether Iran has used the Khorramshahr-4 against Israel is contentious, with conflicting claims:

• No Confirmed Use in April or October 2024 Attacks: Iran launched significant missile barrages against Israel on April 13, 2024 (Operation True Promise, 120 ballistic missiles) and October 1, 2024 (180 ballistic missiles) in retaliation for Israeli actions, including the bombing of Iran’s embassy in Damascus and assassinations of IRGC, Hamas, and Hezbollah leaders. However, reports indicate Iran primarily used older ballistic missiles like the Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shekan, not the Khorramshahr or its variants, including the Khorramshahr-4.
• June 2025 Claims: Some X posts and media reports suggest Iran may have used the Khorramshahr-4 for the first time against Israel in June 2025, particularly in strikes on June 15, 2025, targeting cities like Bat Yam or Rehovot. For instance, a post by

  @SprinterObserve

  on June 18, 2025, claimed Iran used the Khorramshahr-4, citing Hajizadeh’s statement about its ability to hit 80 targets per launch. However, these claims lack independent verification, and no official Iranian or Israeli statements confirm the use of Khorramshahr-4 in these attacks.
• Israeli and Western Analysis: Israeli military analysts, such as Tal Inbar and Dr. Yehoshua Kalisky, note that Iran has held back its most advanced missiles, including the Khorramshahr-4, possibly reserving them for future escalations. Reports indicate Iran’s June 2025 attacks involved missiles like the Haj Qasem, Qadr, and Emad, with the Khorramshahr-4 described as a “Doomsday weapon” yet to be deployed.
• Unverified Claims: Earlier posts, such as one by

  @Lailafatimeh

  on August 6, 2024, citing Al-Arabiya, and another by

  @kamaalrkhan

  on October 13, 2023, claimed Iran intended to use or could use the Khorramshahr-4 against Israel, but these lack evidence of actual deployment.

Why Iran May Not Have Used It

• Strategic Restraint: Analysts suggest Iran is conserving its most advanced missiles, like the Khorramshahr-4, due to their high cost (estimated at over $1 million each) and limited numbers (dozens to a few hundred). Iran may be saving them for a larger escalation or to overwhelm Israeli defenses in a future barrage.
• Production Constraints: The Khorramshahr-4 is expensive and complex to produce, limiting Iran’s stockpile compared to older, cheaper missiles like the Qadr or Emad, which number in the thousands.
• Israeli Defenses: Israel’s multi-layered air defense system (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 2/3) intercepted most missiles in April and October 2024, with U.S., UK, and Jordanian assistance. Iran may be hesitant to deploy its prized Khorramshahr-4 until it can ensure penetration of these defenses.

Conclusion

The Khorramshahr-4 is one of Iran’s most advanced ballistic missiles, designed for high precision, evasion of defenses, and rapid deployment. While Iran has conducted major missile attacks on Israel in 2024 and reportedly in June 2025, there is no conclusive evidence that the Khorramshahr-4 has been used against Israel as of the latest available data. Claims of its use in June 2025 remain unverified and are primarily based on X posts without corroboration from official or reliable sources. Iran appears to be holding back this missile, possibly for strategic reasons or future escalation.

- from Grok's analysis on 19th June 2025.