Artillery

Zolfaghar Ballistic Missile

Also known as
  • Zulfiqar

The Zolfaghar is an Iranian road-mobile, solid-fuel short-range ballistic missile in the Fateh-110 family. CSIS says it was unveiled in 2016, reported at 700 km range, first fired in Syria in June 2017, and later used in Iran's January 2020 retaliation against U.S. forces at Ayn al Asad airbase.

Zolfaghar Ballistic Missile, Short-range ballistic missile, Artillery
Image source: IRGC-AF SRBMs.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2020 United States-Iran Conflict
Side
Iran
Role in conflict
Retaliatory short-range ballistic missile strike

During the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict, Iran used Zolfaghar ballistic missiles in the January 2020 strike on Ayn al Asad airbase after the U.S. killing of Qassem Soleimani, according to the Iran Primer.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Iran
Type
Short-range ballistic missile
Service note
2017-present
Designer
Iranian defense industry
Designed
Unveiled in 2016

Specifications

Class
Short-range ballistic missile
Range
700 km for Zolfaghar; longer-range Dezful and Qasem derivatives are reported at 1,000 km and 1,400 km
Warhead
500+ kg high explosive or submunitions
Guidance
Inertial with GPS guidance
Accuracy
About 100 m CEP, estimated
Propulsion
Single-stage solid propellant for Zolfaghar and Dezful
Length
10.3 m
Diameter
0.6 m for Zolfaghar and Dezful
Launch platform
Road-mobile launcher
Variants
  • Zolfaghar
  • Zolfaghar Basir
  • Dezful
  • Qasem
Carried Warheads

The Zolfaghar family is described as able to carry a submunition warhead.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Cluster-munition warhead, Ballistic-missile cluster warhead, MunitionsCluster-munition warheadCluster-munition warhead

CSIS says Iran claims Zolfaghar can be fitted with a submunition warhead.

Sources: Zolfaghar (Dezful, Qasem) | Missile Threat - CSIS

Timeline

Zolfaghar Ballistic Missile Key Events

  1. Publicly unveiled

    CSIS and MDAA place Zolfaghar's public debut in September 2016, with Hossein Dehghan announcing the missile and its reported 700 km range.

    Sources: Zolfaghar (Dezful, Qasem), Zolfaghar | Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

  2. First reported combat use in Syria

    CSIS reports that Iran launched six Zolfaghar missiles into eastern Syria toward the Deir ez-Zor region, marking the missile's first reported combat use.

    Sources: Zolfaghar (Dezful, Qasem), Zolfaghar | Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance

  3. Zolfaghar Basir unveiled

    CSIS says Iran unveiled the Zolfaghar-e Basir, an antiship version with an optical seeker and the same reported 700 km range.

    Sources: Zolfaghar (Dezful, Qasem)

  4. IRGC drills feature Zolfaghar and Dezful

    CSIS notes that Iran's IRGC snap drills used twelve or more Zolfaghar, Zelzal, and Dezful ballistic missiles during Prophet Mohammad 15.

    Sources: Zolfaghar (Dezful, Qasem)

Family Branches

CSIS and MDAA both place Zolfaghar inside Iran's Fateh-110 missile family. That family line then split into longer-range and mission-specific branches, including Dezful, Zolfaghar Basir, and Qasem.

VariantReported rangeDistinctive detail
Zolfaghar700 kmBaseline road-mobile SRBM unveiled in 2016.
Dezful1,000 kmLarger Zolfaghar derivative first displayed in 2019.
Zolfaghar Basir700 kmAntiship version with an optical seeker.
Qasem1,400 kmTwo-stage derivative with a wider first stage.
Media

Zolfaghar Ballistic Missile Images

Zolfaghar Ballistic Missile, Short-range ballistic missile, Artillery - view 1
Source: Fateh-110 Family Missile
Related Weapon Systems
Ghadr/Qadr Ballistic Missile, Medium-range ballistic missile, MunitionsMunitionsGhadr/Qadr Ballistic MissileMedium-range ballistic missileThe Ghadr/Qadr family is an Iranian road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile line derived from the Shahab-3, with open-source references using Ghadr, Qadr, Ghadr-1, Ghadr-110, Ghadr-H, Qadr-H, Qadr-F, Emad, and related labels unevenly across variants. CSIS and Iran Watch describe Ghadr-class missiles as deployed Iranian systems with roughly 1,600-1,950 km range and a payload near 750-800 kg, while Iranian state reporting directly connects Ghadr-H/Qadr-H/Kheibar, Qadr/Qader, Emad, and one source-limited Badr wording to long-range strikes in the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict and 2026 Iran War.
Qiam-1 / modified Qiam ballistic missile, Short-range ballistic missile, ArtilleryArtilleryQiam-1 / modified Qiam ballistic missileShort-range ballistic missileThe Qiam-1 is Iran's road-mobile, liquid-fueled short-range ballistic missile family derived from the Shahab-2, with a finless body and separable warhead that distinguish it from earlier Scud-derived missiles. Source reporting connects Qiam-type missiles to Iranian strikes in Syria against Islamic State targets and to the January 2020 Ayn al-Asad attack, while modified Qiam/Qiam-2 attribution remains analyst-dependent rather than an official Iranian model name.

Sources

Zolfaghar (Dezful, Qasem)Publisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports Zolfaghar origin, Fateh-family background, service status, variants, propulsion, warhead, dimensions, and range. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Zolfaghar | Missile Defense Advocacy AlliancePublisher: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance | Note: Supports the alternate spelling Zulfiqar, the road-mobile SRBM description, guidance and accuracy data, and background context for the missile family. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Iran's Ballistic Missile ProgramPublisher: The Iran Primer / United States Institute of Peace | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct used by Iran context: the Iran Primer says a majority of the Zolfaghar missiles struck key targets during the January 2020 Ayn al Asad airbase attack. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Fateh-110 Family MissilePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the Zolfaghar/Fateh-family parade image; Wikimedia Commons lists the file under CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20IRGC-AF SRBMs.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public image provenance for a photo showing Iranian IRGC Aerospace Force short-range ballistic missiles, including the Zolfaghar family display. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Zolfaghar (Dezful, Qasem) | Missile Threat - CSISPublisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports the claim that Zolfaghar can be fitted with a submunition warhead. | Accessed: 2026-06-28