As Iranian and U.S.officials prepare to meet Friday in muscat, Oman, to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme, Iran has publicly revealed the deployment of a long-range ballistic missile to a secure underground facility [[1]]. The move, involving the Khorramshahr-4 missile with a 2,000-kilometer range, signals a potential shift in Iranian military strategy and adds a layer of complexity to already tenuous diplomatic efforts [[2]]. The upcoming talks are expected to address the future of the 2015 nuclear accord,but significant disagreements remain over the scope of negotiations,notably regarding Iran’s missile program [[3]].
Iran has moved one of its most advanced long-range ballistic missiles to a subterranean missile base operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, state television reported Thursday, as a delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed for Muscat, Oman, to hold nuclear talks with the United States on Friday.
The state-run Press TV identified the missile as the Khorramshahr-4, stating it has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) and is capable of carrying a 1,500-kilogram (3,307-pound) warhead.
The deployment of the Khorramshahr-4 is “linked to the announced shift in the armed forces’ doctrine from defensive to offensive,” Iranian television reported, adding that it sends “a clear message to regional and other adversaries.”
The move comes as diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal continue, though prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain.
Negotiations between Iran and the United States are scheduled to take place Friday in Muscat, Oman, but questions lingered until the last minute over even the agenda for the talks. Washington has insisted that the missile program be included in discussions, while Tehran has stated it will only discuss its nuclear program.
This diplomatic push occurs amid heightened tensions, with the U.S. increasing its military presence in the Middle East and regional actors seeking to avoid a military confrontation that many fear could escalate into a wider conflict.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday that President Donald Trump is awaiting the outcome of Friday’s talks with Iran before deciding whether a deal is possible. “I would like to remind the Iranian regime that the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful army in the history of the world, has many options at his disposal, in addition to diplomacy,” Leavitt said, according to Reuters.
Iran has strategically positioned one of its most sophisticated ballistic missiles within a secure underground facility, a move that arrives as crucial nuclear negotiations with the United States are set to begin. The development underscores growing regional tensions and adds another layer of complexity to already fragile diplomatic efforts.
According to Iranian state television, the Khorramshahr-4 missile – capable of reaching targets up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) away and carrying a 1,500-kilogram (3,307-pound) payload – has been installed at an unspecified air base belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. State media characterized the deployment as a shift in Iran’s military doctrine, moving from a purely defensive posture to one with offensive capabilities.
The announcement precedes planned talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. officials in Muscat, Oman, on Friday. The agenda for the meeting remains a point of contention, with the U.S. seeking to address Iran’s ballistic missile program alongside its nuclear activities. Tehran, however, has limited its commitment to discussions solely on the nuclear accord.
The situation is unfolding against a backdrop of increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East and widespread concerns about potential escalation in the region. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized Thursday that President Trump is reserving judgment on the possibility of a deal, while also asserting the U.S. maintains a range of options beyond diplomacy, Reuters reported.
The announcement could influence future diplomatic talks and further complicate efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
