Facts

Overview

Iran’s Shahab-1 is a short-range ballistic missile derived from the Scud-B. The Shahab-1 has a maximum range of 300km (185 miles), making it capable of striking several urban areas and military sites near Iran’s borders. [1] The Shahab-1 is liquid fueled, and can typically carry a nuclear or conventional high explosive warhead with a payload of around 1000kg. [2] As a road mobile system, the Shahab-1 can be launched from any location on relatively short notice. Iran first acquired the Scud-B derived missile from Libya and Syria during the Iran-Iraq war and then from North Korea during the later phase of the war and began calling the missile Shahab-1. [3] With help from North Korea, Iran acquired the ability to produce the Shahab-1 domestically.

Strategic Implications

Currently, the Shahab-1 poses a limited strategic threat to the Middle East given its short range of 300km. However, the Shahab-1 has the ability to hold cities and military installations near its borders at risk. For example, U.S. military installations in Bahrain are well within Shahab-1’s strike radius. Additionally, the cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City, Baghdad, as well as Turkey’s southeastern region are within its range. Iran has, for example, threatened to target NATO’s Patriot missile defense batteries in southern Turkey in the event Iran came under attack. Furthermore, Shahab-1’s road mobility makes it easy to conceal and therefore more resilient to a pre-emptive strike. Iran used Shahab-1 extensively throughout the Iran-Iraq War and afterwards. In 2001, Iran fired between 40-77 Shahab-1 missiles into Iraq. [4]

Timeline

• November 1994: Iran reportedly gains capability to independently produce Shahab-1.
• Early 1988: Iran completes $5 million deal with North Korea to purchase Scud-B missiles.
• March 1985: Iran first fires Scud-B missiles against Iraq.
• 1985: Iran receives 54 Scud-B missiles from North Korea and Libya.

Sources

[1] “Iran announces missile breakthrough.” Al Jazeera, March 5, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2014.

[2] “Iran Equips Qadr H, Qiam Ballistic Missiles with MRV Payloads.” Fars News Agency (Tehran), March 5, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2014.

[3] Ben, Piven “Map: US bases encircle Iran.” Al Jazeera (Doha, Qatar), May 1, 2012. Accessed April 8, 2014. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2012/04/2012417131242767298.html.