• Pete Hegseth emphasizes Iran's established long-range strike capabilities as US-Israel operations target missile infrastructure.
  • Recent Israeli "Operation Genesis" and US strikes aim to dismantle Iran's missile arsenal amid worst economic crisis with 50% inflation.
  • Experts assess Iran retains 1,500-2,000 missiles despite losses, with potential for short-term Gulf disruptions and regime stability debates.

Iran's long-range strike capabilities have come into sharp focus as escalating military operations by the United States and Israel target the country's missile infrastructure, according to recent statements by Pete Hegseth. The remarks underscore Tehran's established arsenal amid what experts describe as its worst economic crisis in decades, with inflation nearing 50% and global oil markets bracing for volatility from Gulf tensions.

In late February 2026, Israel launched "Operation Genesis," striking 500 Iranian military targets with 200 fighter jets—its largest sortie ever—targeting air defenses and missile launchers. The US joined the effort with B-2 bombers, F/A-18s, F-35s, Tomahawks, and drones aimed at hardened missile facilities, according to people familiar with the operations. President Trump has declared goals to destroy Iran's missiles, block nuclear weapons, and topple the regime, projecting completion in under a month. Iran retaliated with approximately 35 ballistic missiles on Israel and strikes on US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, and Jordan.

"What we're seeing is a coordinated push to degrade Iran's ability to project power," said one analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. Efforts to dismantle the missile network have hit a snag, however, with experts noting that full elimination of mobile and underground sites remains "extraordinarily difficult." Despite losses from the June 2025 war, which destroyed one-third of Iran's launchers and missile stocks, assessments indicate the country retains 1,500-2,000 missiles and production capacity for hundreds monthly.

Iran's capabilities stem from systems like the Shahab-3, with a range of 800-950 miles and a 1,650 lb payload, and the Shahab-4, reaching 1,240-1,250 miles with a 2,200 lb payload, developed with North Korean, Chinese, and Russian aid since the 1990s. Without a deal to limit these programs, regional tensions could spiral further, though Iran's degraded naval assets may limit prolonged impact on Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes. Attempts to reach Iranian officials for comment were unsuccessful.

The strikes have also fueled anti-regime sentiment, with one incident hitting an Iranian school and killing at least 40 people, including students. Israeli cyberattacks have urged Iranians to rise up, adding to societal pressures. In the background, US demands include ending uranium enrichment, missile limits, and proxy support for groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, following IAEA findings of hidden enriched uranium in an undamaged site.

Short-term, Iran may launch more strikes, cyber operations, or asymmetric actions via proxies or in Iraq, but with diminishing capacity, according to analysts. Long-term, the US aims for regime change, though doubts persist about the one-month timeline. As negotiations stall, the focus remains on real-time developments, with stakeholders including depleted Iranian forces, US and Israeli troops, and Gulf civilians near bases debating civilian casualties and economic fallout.

Correction: An earlier version misstated the number of Iranian missiles retained; it is 1,500-2,000, not 2,000-2,500.