Iran’s long-range Sejjil ballistic missile has drawn fresh attention following its reported use in the recent “True Promise 3” operation against Israel, highlighting Tehran’s growing missile capabilities, according to Mehr news agency.
What is the Sejjil?
The Sejjil is a two-stage, solid-fuel ballistic missile and is considered one of the most advanced weapons in Iran’s missile arsenal. Designed to carry a 650 kg warhead, the missile reportedly has the range to strike Tel Aviv from Iranian soil in under 10 minutes, military analysts say.
The use of solid fuel gives the Sejjil a key tactical advantage — faster launch readiness and reduced vulnerability to pre-emptive strikes, making interception by enemy air defences far more difficult.
Strategic Significance
The Sejjil is viewed as a core element of Iran’s deterrence strategy. Its speed, range, and mobility have made it a central feature of Tehran’s missile power, with experts describing it as a symbol of Iran’s technological progress in missile development.
Before the introduction of the Khorramshahr missile, the Sejjil was considered Iran’s most sophisticated missile system, according to a 2017 report by The National Interest.
The latest variant, the Sejjil-2, boasts faster launch capabilities and an enhanced warhead design compared to the original Sejjil-1, significantly boosting Iran’s capacity for rapid strikes.
Israeli defence analysts have warned that the Sejjil’s high velocity and solid-fuel technology present a serious challenge for Israel’s missile defence systems.
