Missile Shahid Haj Qasem

The Haj Qasem (also Qassem), officially the Martyr Haj Qasem ballistic missile, is an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile derived from the Zolfaghar missile. It was unveiled and entered service on 20 August 2020. It is named after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US strike in January 2020. The Abu Mahdi naval cruise missile was unveiled at the same event.

The Haj Qasem is a medium-range ballistic missile with a conventional high-explosive warhead. Public information on its propulsion, guidance and accuracy is limited.

The Qassem Bassir, an improved variant of the Haj Qasem series, was unveiled by Iran's defence minister on state television on 4 May 2025. It is a two-stage, solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile. Iranian officials state that it has improved guidance and greater resistance to countermeasures. Iran claims the missile can penetrate modern missile defenses and strike point targets such as runways and aircraft hangars without GPS. Western analysts have questioned these claims and assess them as likely influenced by domestic propaganda.

Iran is the only known operator. Final assembly of Haj Qasem missiles is believed to take place at the Kuh-e Barjamali site, part of the Khojir Aerospace Complex southeast of Tehran. US forces bombed the site on 7 March 2026. On 18 July 2026, Iranian state media reported that Haj Qasem missiles had been launched against several Persian Gulf states and Jordan.