Potential Strategic Shift: Iran Reportedly Gains Access to North Korean ICBMs

DID Press: In a media interview, Hossein Bagheri, head of the Iqbal Think Tank in Pakistan, claimed that Iran has obtained a stock of North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles, specifically the “Hwasong-18” model. According to him, approximately 500 of these missiles were secretly transported via China and Russia and are now deployed at various locations across Iran. These claims have not been confirmed by official sources in Iran or North Korea.

Bagheri stated that U.S. intelligence agencies are aware of this transfer and consider it a “major intelligence failure.” He described the missiles as having solid fuel, short launch preparation times, extremely long ranges, and the ability to bypass defensive systems.

The analyst further noted that past political and security pressures on Iran—including the assassinations of scientists and military commanders—have pushed Tehran toward enhancing its deterrent capabilities. Bagheri framed Iran’s reported acquisition of these missiles as part of a broader effort to strengthen national defense.

These claims have not yet been independently verified by international organizations or third-party sources and require official confirmation.