Iran Introduces Qassem Baseer: A Precision Missile to Counter THAAD and Target Anywhere in the Middle East

In a significant demonstration of its expanding strategic capabilities, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has officially introduced its latest medium-range ballistic missile, named ‘Qassem Baseer.’

This missile is claimed to be capable of evading interception by the United States’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which is a key component of Israel’s missile defense framework. The launch of this new solid-fueled missile system comes at a time of heightened instability in the Middle East, with Tehran positioning the Qassem Baseer as a next-generation deterrent that could alter the regional threat landscape. With a striking range of 1,200 kilometers, the Qassem Baseer targets American military installations in Iraq, Syria, and the Persian Gulf, providing Iran with a powerful long-range precision weapon that does not rely on intercontinental missiles.

In a statement filled with strategic implications, Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned, ‘If we are attacked or a war is forced upon us, we will respond with full force.’ He further emphasized, ‘We will strike their interests and bases without hesitation or limitations,’ while distinguishing between Tehran’s stance towards its neighbors and the presence of American forces: ‘We harbor no hostility towards our neighboring countries; they are our brothers, but American bases within those nations are legitimate targets.’

Nasirzadeh noted that the Qassem Baseer’s development was informed by combat data from Iran’s dual-stage Operation True Promise campaigns against Israel in 2024, representing a significant technological advancement over the previous Kheibar Shekan missile. ‘This missile features advanced guidance and high maneuverability, enabling it to penetrate most global ballistic missile defense systems,’ he asserted.

According to our technical assessments, it is estimated that around 5 percent of these missiles will be intercepted by Israel, while the rest will successfully penetrate defenses—contrasting sharply with the significantly higher interception rates observed during the True Promise operations, Nasirzadeh said. The Qassem Baseer features an optical terminal guidance system that eliminates reliance on GPS, greatly enhancing its accuracy and making it less susceptible to electronic warfare or satellite-denial tactics increasingly employed by NATO-aligned forces.

Operation True Promise I, initiated on April 13, 2024, represented the most intense kinetic confrontation between Iran and Israel to date, shifting their conflict from covert and proxy engagements to direct missile exchanges. This operation was a response to the Israeli attack on Iran’s diplomatic facility in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven IRGC members, including two generals. Over 300 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones were launched during this operation—many from Iranian soil—making it the largest coordinated missile-drone strike ever documented.

Tehran escalated its efforts in Operation True Promise II on October 1, 2024, following the targeted assassinations of key figures such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan. The second wave of missile strikes involved around 200 ballistic missiles, including hypersonic systems like the Fattah-1 and upgraded Kheibar Shekan, highlighting Iran’s growing capabilities in advanced missile technology despite Western sanctions.

The missiles targeted critical military installations within Israel, including the Nevatim and Tel Nof airbases, while several projectiles were reported to have aimed at areas near the Mossad headquarters and the cyber-intelligence Unit 8200. Nasirzadeh emphasized that the Qassem Baseer signifies a “generational leap” in Iran’s missile capabilities, surpassing the Kheibar Shekan in terms of accuracy and resilience, fundamentally altering the strategic landscape for both Israel and the United States.

He noted that the Qassem Baseer, developed from the Kheibar Shekan design, boasts a Circular Error Probability (CEP) of under one meter due to its sophisticated guidance system. If this assertion is independently validated, the Qassem Baseer would rank among the most precise ballistic missiles globally, a claim supported by earlier Kheibar Shekan operations that reportedly achieved a five-meter CEP during Operation True Promise II.

Beyond its exceptional accuracy, Nasirzadeh disclosed that the missile is engineered to endure advanced electronic jamming during tests, preserving full operational capability even under intense electromagnetic interference—a vital feature in contemporary missile warfare. Constructed with a radar-evading carbon fiber structure and outfitted with both thermal and optical terminal guidance, the Qassem Baseer is designed to navigate through layered defense systems like THAAD and Patriot, employing erratic flight trajectories and last-minute adjustments.

Its introduction highlights Iran’s intensified commitment to self-reliance in strategic deterrent technologies, marking not only a significant advancement in missile design but also a geopolitical message to both adversaries and allies. As the threat of regional conflict escalates—from Gaza to the Red Sea—Iran’s presentation of the Qassem Baseer conveys a clear message: its missile strategy is evolving from simple retaliation to precision-driven supremacy, recalibrating the power dynamics throughout the Middle East.