Silent Bombers, Screaming Missiles: The Tense Balance of Iran and America

In mid-March 2025, the United States sent six B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia, a base in the Indian Ocean. This made up about one-third of all the B-2 bombers it has. The presence of support aircraft like tankers and cargo planes shows that the military is fully prepared to strike well-protected sites in Iran and Yemen. This show of strength came after a strong warning from US President Donald Trump, who said that if Iran doesn’t agree to a new nuclear deal, a bombing could take place. Along with the B-52, the B-2 is one of the only two bombers in the U.S. Air Force that can carry the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). This powerful bomb is made to destroy heavily protected targets deep underground.

 

According to AL-MONITOR, Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), says the B-2 bomber isn’t just being shown off for looks. Its stealth design allows it to enter Iranian airspace with very little risk of being detected. It can also carry powerful bombs that are made to break through underground and heavily protected targets. This makes it the ideal aircraft if the goal is to strike strong Iranian military sites.

 

Israeli officials have reportedly asked the Trump administration to think about launching long-range attacks on Iran’s uranium enrichment sites in Natanz and Fordow. This has once again brought up old concerns about how to handle the growing threat from Iran’s missile and nuclear programs.

 

Is Iran Capable of Attacking Diego Garcia?

 

Iran rejected Trump’s conditions and warned that it would strike back at any base involved in attacks on its land.

 

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) revealed its third underground missile site since January. This facility is filled with both ballistic and cruise missiles and is meant as a clear warning to its enemies.

 

IRGC Air Force Commander Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that U.S. bases in the region are like a “glass house,” meaning they are easy to target and not well protected. As reported by the Tehran Times, Iran’s underground missile forces are on high alert, with their launchers “ready to fire” at any moment.

 

Even so, hitting Diego Garcia directly from Iran is very difficult both technically and strategically. The island is about 3,700 kilometers away from Iran’s southern coast, which is much farther than the 2,000-kilometer range of Iran’s medium-range ballistic missiles.

 

Tehran might try to increase its missile range by using lighter warheads — like those on the Kheibar Shekan — but there’s no proven test showing they work well at such long distances. Also, even if such an attack were carried out, it would likely be more symbolic than truly effective.

 

Launching missiles from the sea is another possible option. However, Iran’s regular navy isn’t strong enough to carry out such risky missions. Instead, Iran has started using modified commercial ships, like the “Shahid Mahdavi”, for these kinds of tasks.

 

These ships can secretly launch drones and cruise missiles using container-based systems, giving Iran a hidden way to strike. Reports say the Shahid Mahdavi came as close as 800 miles(1, 287 Kms) to Diego Garcia in mid-2024.

 

Still, any attack would have to deal with strong defenses. A spokesperson from the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) told the War Zone that they have several layers of defense systems in place to protect their people and equipment.

 

This protection includes defenses based on the island, navy ships, submarines, and patrol aircraft — all working together to create a strong and layered security system.

 

Iran is more likely to strike nearby targets, such as U.S. bases in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and even Israel. Its missile stockpile — which includes over 3,000 ballistic missiles, along with older liquid-fuel and newer solid-fuel types — is built to hit targets within a range of 350 to 2,000 kilometers, making these locations more realistic options for retaliation.

 

Iran’s Missile Strength and Reach

 

Iran’s medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) include older models like the Shahab-3 and improved versions such as the Ghadr-1, Emad, and Sejjil. Many of these missiles use special warheads that can change direction during reentry, making them harder to stop. The Sejjil stands out as Iran’s only two-stage solid-fuel MRBM, which makes it quicker to launch and harder to detect.

 

Iran’s latest missiles — the Kheibar Shekan and Fattah — show that the country now has better precision strike abilities. The Kheibar Shekan, which is part of the Fateh missile family and uses solid fuel, can hit targets up to 1,450 kilometers away and has better targeting accuracy.

 

The Fattah, which Iran calls its first hypersonic missile, was officially introduced in October 2024. While some experts question if it truly qualifies as hypersonic, its high speed and ability to change direction make it difficult for missile defense systems to stop.

 

Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) like the Fateh-110, Zolfaghar, and Dezful — with ranges between 300 and 700 kilometers — remain a key part of Iran’s regional defense strategy. These SRBMs are mobile, launched from roads, and can be hidden easily, making them harder to detect and target.

 

Hinz explains that, in a surprising way, Iran might actually be better able to stop or scare off the US than Israel can. Why? Because American military bases in the Gulf and Middle East are nearby and easier for Iran to target if a conflict breaks out.

 

Iran’s defense plan focuses a lot on keeping its missiles safe. To protect them, Iran uses underground bases, which are often shown in government videos. These hidden bases help move missile launchers around and get them ready in advance.

 

But some of these bases have weak spots — like not having strong blast doors or separate sections inside — which means if one part is hit, it could damage the whole site. Satellite images show that Iran is working to fix and strengthen these bases by doing more construction.

 

If Israel or the US attacks Iran, their main goal would likely be to weaken Iran’s ability to fight back, not to destroy every single missile. They would probably focus on hitting key places like missile factories, control centers, air defense systems, radar stations, and nuclear sites. This is similar to what Israel did in its October 2024 attacks on places like Shahroud, Parchin, and Khojir.

 

These attacks badly hurt Iran’s missile-making system. At Shahroud — an important site where parts for missiles are made — production reportedly dropped from two missiles a day to just one a week. Fixing the damaged machines could take up to a year, and Iran might need help from other countries like China to do it.

 

To rebuild its missile stockpile, Iran has started importing materials. In March 2025, a ship named Jairan unloaded over 1,100 tons of sodium perchlorate — a chemical used in solid missile fuel — near Bandar Abbas. This was likely meant for missile sites that were damaged earlier.

 

The missile attacks by Iran on Israel in April and October 2024 (called Operations True Promise I and II) showed both progress and limits in Iran’s long-range missile power.

 

In April, Iran showed it could better coordinate large numbers of drones, cruise missiles, and medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) over long distances. However, most of them were shot down, and the damage was small.

 

In October, Iran used only MRBMs, firing 181 missiles, with at least 39 making it into Israeli airspace. This time, better timing, using only missiles, and aiming at tighter target areas helped more missiles get through.

 

Iran is changing the way it uses missiles — for example, by launching older ones first to trick and use up enemy defense systems. This shows that Iran is learning how modern air defense works.

 

However, its missile stockpile is still at risk when facing strong, well-planned defense systems like Israel’s Arrow 2 and 3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome — especially when these systems are backed by support from allies.

 

Besides launching direct attacks, Iranian leaders have also warned about blocking the Strait of Hormuz, capturing commercial ships, and using allied groups in the region.

 

Still, if there’s a direct military conflict, Iran is most likely to respond with missile strikes on US bases in the Middle East or on Israel. Iran has often mentioned American bases in the Gulf and the region as possible targets. Military leaders have said their missiles are ready to fire, and many launchers are already placed in different parts of the country.

 

The Progress of Satellite Technology

 

Reaching faraway targets like Diego Garcia might seem impossible for now without intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). However, Iran is slowly getting closer. Its progress in developing space launch vehicles (SLVs)—like the Simorgh and Qased rockets—uses technology that is very similar to what’s needed for ICBMs. These include features like multiple rocket stages, the ability to control direction during flight, and reaching very high altitudes. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has already used the Qased rocket to launch military satellites into space. The Simorgh rocket, which is built using parts from earlier Shahab missiles, also shows that Iran could, in the future, develop much longer-range missile systems.

 

Russia has played a big role in speeding up this progress. In January 2025, Iran and Russia signed an important agreement to work together on nuclear and space technology. Later, in March, Iranian officials met with leaders from Russia and China to discuss working together in science. Iran continues to say that all its efforts are for peaceful purposes.

 

Iran’s missile defense strategy depends on using large numbers, speed, and overwhelming attacks. Advanced missiles like the Fattah, Khorramshahr-4, and Emad-1, which have maneuverable reentry vehicles (MARVs), can be tough for air defense systems to stop. However, there are limits to this capability, such as challenges in production, a shortage of launchers, and a range limit of 2,000 kilometers. Iran also has land-attack cruise missiles with a range of up to 1,650 kilometers and long-range drones that can reach up to 2,500 kilometers, expanding its options for striking targets.

 

In the event of a direct conflict, Iran won’t be the only one using missiles. The United States has spent a lot to build strong missile defense systems in the region. This includes warships with Aegis systems, advanced THAAD missile defense units, and Patriot systems placed around the Gulf. Israel also has the Arrow-3 system, which can stop missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere. On top of that, the U.S. and its allies share early warning systems, which makes it harder for Iran to launch a surprise attack.

 

Tehran has made it clear that it won’t stay silent if tensions rise. Its missiles are not just meant to scare others—they are carefully used as a way to apply pressure and can make a real impact in battle. If a war breaks out, these missiles will likely be the first to be used.

News