Missile Zolfaghar

The Zolfaghar is an Iranian road-mobile, single-stage, solid-propellant short-range ballistic missile. It belongs to the Fateh-110 family and is possibly derived from the Fateh-313. The missile is named after Zulfiqar, the sword of Ali ibn Abi Talib. It was first shown publicly at a military parade on 25 September 2016, carried on a vehicle bearing an anti-Zionist banner. The Iranian Ministry of Defense later released video of a test launch. The missile entered service in 2017.

Earlier Fateh-family missiles have metal bodies. The Zolfaghar's body is made of filament-wound fiber, which reduces weight and extends range compared with those predecessors. The warhead separates from the missile body during the midcourse phase. This makes the reentry vehicle harder to detect, track and intercept than on unibody designs such as the 9K720 Iskander. Guidance combines inertial navigation with satellite positioning, and the missile is believed to use commercial GNSS receivers to improve accuracy. Payload options include a high-explosive unitary warhead and submunitions. According to Janes, the claimed range is considered largely proven by the 2017 Deir ez-Zor strike.

Iranian media report a naval variant designated Zolfaqar Basir. In February 2019 Iran unveiled the Dezful, a longer-range derivative whose claimed range places it in the medium-range ballistic missile class.

Iran is the only confirmed operator. On 17 June 2017, Iran launched six Zolfaghar missiles at Islamic State targets in the Deir ez-Zor region of Syria in retaliation for the 7 June 2017 Tehran attacks. It was the first ballistic missile fired by Iran in combat in 30 years. Assessments of the accuracy and reliability of the missiles in this strike differ sharply between sources. On 1 October 2018, Zolfaghar missiles were fired together with Qiam missiles at Islamic State targets in Syria.

On 7 March 2021, the Houthi movement in Yemen attacked targets in Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and drones. The attack included a Zolfaghar missile and Samad-3 loitering munitions directed at the Aramco oil facilities at Ras Tanura.

Final assembly of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles is believed to take place at the Kuh-e Barjamali site, part of the Khojir Aerospace Complex southeast of Tehran. United States forces bombed the site on 7 March 2026.

In October 2022, an intelligence assessment shared with Ukrainian and U.S. officials stated that Iran was preparing a first shipment of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar missiles to Russia. Western media reported later that month that the Iranian side had confirmed the sale. Iran rejected the reports, and its foreign minister called them "completely wrong." As of April 2024, no transfer had been confirmed.