Has Iran surpassed the US and Israel in the hypersonic arms race? Is Israel going to fight Iran's missiles with lasers? Has Iran, with the help of North Korea, built 12,000 km intercontinental missiles and increased its missile power? What are the features of the Rastakhiz electromagnetic missile?

Israel goes to war with Iran's missiles with lasers

Iran has surpassed the US and Israel in the hypersonic arms race, and neither Israel nor the US has an effective defense system against its weapons; Iron Dome is designed for slower and more primitive missiles and rockets, not hypersonic missiles.

According to the editorial, the National Interest, in its analysis of Iran’s missile capabilities and the US and Israeli efforts to counter them, in an analysis titled “Has Iran Overtaken the US and Israel in the Hypersonic Arms Race?” stated:

The US and Israel are working on high-powered lasers to counter the (Iranian) missile threat, but these weapons are still a long way from being operational. Meanwhile, Iran now has hypersonic missiles.

In the modern era of global instability, just when one conflict seems to be over, another begins. In June of this year, the so-called “12-Day War” broke out between the predominantly Jewish democracy of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It ended only after the US Air Force conducted Operation Midnight Strike (a technically sophisticated attack using long-range B-2 Spirit stealth bombers) against Iranian facilities suspected of developing nuclear weapons.

Doubts and questions were raised about the effectiveness of the strikes; independent analysts believed that they had set back Iran’s nuclear program by six months to two years, but failed to destroy it permanently, a claim initially made by President Donald Trump.

To the Trump administration, it was clear that the strikes were the end of the 12-day war. But to Israel and Iran, it was only a prelude to a larger war. After all, both Iran and Israel have plans for regional hegemony and see each other as an obstacle to achieving these grand goals.

Since the end of the war, both Israel and Iran have been arming themselves and preparing for a new round of war.

Trita Parsi, vice president of the Quincy Institute, speculates that the conflict will likely resume in the fall.

To that end, Israel is not the only country actively buying and producing weapons. Iran, despite all the bombing it endured in the past war, has shown that its underground missile cities remain largely intact.

Furthermore, the former head of the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), who has now resigned, previously revealed to the press that B-2 airstrikes on these fortified Iranian nuclear sites were not as effective as the Trump administration had claimed.

Now, the Iranians have unveiled their most powerful weapon yet as a deterrent against a new round of Israeli airstrikes. The hypersonic missile, known as the “Akher al-Zaman,” has been the subject of intense debate among defense analysts since its unveiling by the Iranian military. If Iran’s claims about the new missile are true, it could pose the greatest strategic threat to Israel’s security in the near future.

Iran’s hypersonic weapons development program has gained momentum since the early 2000s, when missiles such as the Shahab-3 provided the IRGC with a variety of medium-range strike options. By 2023, Iran will introduce the Fateh-1 and Fateh-2 hypersonic weapons, which can reach speeds of up to Mach 15 and have ranges of between 869 and 1,243 miles. These Iranian hypersonic weapons are designed to penetrate advanced air defenses such as Iron Dome and Paykan air defense networks and have unpredictable maneuverability in flight.

The Fateh series was first combat-tested in June 2025 during Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel, in which the hypersonic missiles were reported to have surprised defenses and inflicted significant damage on military and civilian targets.

Although the Israeli media largely avoided reporting on the news, the significant damage and concern among Israeli defense officials from Iran’s advanced hypersonic weapons is undeniable. And this is just a small sample of the capabilities of Iran’s rapidly advancing systems.

Keep in mind that neither Israel nor the United States has an effective defense system against these weapons—Iron Dome is designed for slower, more primitive missiles and rockets, not hypersonic missiles—or reliable missiles of their own.

Understanding the Resurrection Missile

Iran’s “Resurrection or Apocalypse” missile was tested in Iran’s first major military exercise since the end of the 12-Day War. The hypersonic missile is capable of carrying up to 80 warheads weighing 70 kilograms each, and its combined warhead has “enormous destructive power.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Iran’s new hypersonic weapon can reach speeds of over Mach 12 and has a range of around 3,000 kilometers, allowing it to strike targets across the region with very little warning. Indeed, the name “Resurrection” highlights the weapon’s symbolic role in Iranian military doctrine and signals a shift in Iran’s strategy to pressure enemies using speed and frequency of attacks.

Hypersonic missiles like the Resurrection operate with a combination of ballistic and glide phases, reaching speeds of up to five times the speed of sound. Their ability to change course in mid-flight makes them extremely difficult to detect and intercept, and they evade radar and missile systems.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, which have predictable trajectories, hypersonic weapons glide through the Earth’s atmosphere, reducing the window for defensive response to minutes. Iran’s advances in solid-fueled, multi-maneuverable reentry vehicles (MaRVs) have increased this capability and could render systems like the U.S. Patriot or Israel’s David’s Sling missile defense ineffective.

The threat to Israel is severe. With a range that covers the distance from Tehran to Tel Aviv, the Resurrection missile could reach Israeli territory in less than 10 minutes, leaving little time for evacuation or countermeasures.

In the June 2025 exchange of fire, Iran’s use of hypersonic Fateh missiles was able to breach Israeli air defenses and hit sites in Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv, causing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. The multi-warhead design of the “Resurrection” increases this risk, allowing for long-range strikes that could overwhelm Israel’s multi-layered defenses.

A warning to the United States and Israel

Experts speculate that a full-scale attack could target key assets such as the Dimona nuclear reactor or Haifa ports, escalating the conflict to an existential level. Iranian officials have presented the missile as a deterrent against Israeli aggression, but its deployment marks a strategic shift toward an offensive posture as both sides prepare for the next round of war.

Equally worrisome are the implications of the missile for U.S. military bases in the Middle East. US bases in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are all within range of Iran’s new hypersonic missile and are vulnerable to rapid attacks. The United States has bolstered regional defenses with the THAAD system and carrier strike groups, but hypersonic weapons challenge these systems. In the past, Iranian proxies have attacked US forces with drones and missiles; a “resurgence” could open the door to a direct attack from Iran, raising the risk of a wider escalation of the conflict.

The US Department of Defense’s assessment suggests that Iran’s “large number” of advanced missiles pose a growing threat and could draw US forces into a wider war if it attacks Israel.

Skeptics say that true mastery of hypersonic missiles would require advanced materials and sophisticated testing that Iran may not have. Critics also claim that the multi-warhead feature is similar to MIRV technology, which Iranian forces have yet to demonstrate.

However, it is important to remember that Iran has shown a significant level of progress in this area; it would be wrong to dismiss the threat of a “resurgence” as merely a propaganda claim.

US and Israeli Response to Iran’s Hypersonic Threat?

In response to the growing threat of Iranian hypersonic missiles, Israel is expanding the development of the “Iron Beam” program, a directed energy weapon (DEW)-based missile defense system. In other words, Israel is developing massive lasers that can shoot incoming hypersonic missiles out of the sky.

The United States is doing something similar with its larger “Golden Dome” project. However, Western militaries have struggled with DEW development for decades, and many of these programs are stuck in “development hell.” So it will be some time before either Israel or the United States can rely on these fancy defenses. Meanwhile, Iran now has hypersonic missiles.

Iran’s “Rastaqiz” hypersonic missile is a symbol of the escalating arms race in the Middle East, showcasing a combination of technical prowess and psychological warfare. Its potential to threaten Israel and U.S. bases underscores the need for an immediate de-escalation of diplomatic tensions.

With more advanced weapons from regional powers, the risk of miscalculation increases and could ignite a conflict with global consequences. Monitoring Iran’s missile progress is vital to maintaining the fragile peace in the region, and Israel may want to reassess its commitment to restarting war with Iran.

Iran’s doomsday hypersonic missile is a symbol of a escalating arms race in the Middle East, combining technological capabilities with psychological warfare. Its potential to threaten Israel and U.S. bases highlights the urgent need to de-escalate diplomatic tensions.

The National Interest, a U.S. publication, published an article titled “Has Iran Beat the U.S. and Israel in the Hypersonic Arms Race?” The United States and Israel are working on high-powered lasers to counter missile threats, but these weapons still have a long way to go. Iran is now threatening Israel with uncontrollable hypersonic missiles and upgrading its deterrent.

According to Asr-Iran, the National Interest continued:

Asr-Iran Channel on Telegram

In the modern era of global instability, just when one conflict seems to be subsiding, another one begins. In June of this year, the so-called “12-Day War” between Israel and Iran erupted. It ended only after the US Air Force launched “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a sophisticated strike using long-range B-2 stealth bombers against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Even those strikes were of dubious effectiveness. Independent analysts speculated that the strikes had only set back Iran’s nuclear program for six months to two years, but had failed to destroy it permanently, as Donald Trump initially claimed.

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Israel and Iran on the Brink of War Again

For the Trump administration, it was clear that the strikes were the end of the 12-Day War. But for Israel and Iran, they were merely a prelude to a larger war. After all, Iran and Israel have plans for regional hegemony - and both sides see each other as obstacles to these grand goals.

Both Israel and Iran are rearming and preparing for another round of war after the end of the war. Trita Parsi, vice president of the Quincy Institute, believes that the conflict is set to resume in the fall.

To this end, it is not only Israel that is buying and producing weapons. Despite all the bombing it suffered in the previous war, Iran has shown that its underground missile cities have remained largely intact. Moreover, the ousted head of the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has previously revealed to the press that US airstrikes against Iran's fortified nuclear sites have not been as effective as the Trump administration claims.

Iran's arsenal of hypersonic weapons

Now the Iranians are showing off their most powerful weapon as a kind of deterrent against a new round of Israeli airstrikes. The hypersonic missile, known as the “Apocalypse,” has been the subject of intense debate among defense analysts since its unveiling. If Iran’s claims about its new hypersonic missile are true, it could pose the greatest strategic threat to Israel’s security in the near future.

Iran’s hypersonic weapons development program gained traction in the early 2000s with missiles such as the Shahab-3, which provided the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with a variety of medium-range strike options.

By 2023, Iran will have introduced the Fatah-1 and Fatah-2 hypersonic guided missiles, which can reach speeds of up to Mach 15 and have ranges of 869 to 1,243 miles. These Iranian hypersonic weapons are designed to penetrate advanced air defenses, such as Israel’s acclaimed Iron Dome and Arrow air defense systems, with unpredictable maneuvers in flight.

Related:

Iran likely wants to increase the range of its ballistic missiles

Defense Minister: 12-Day War changed some of our priorities/We need to get stronger

The Fatah series was first tested in June 2025 during Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, where the hypersonic missiles reportedly overcame defenses and inflicted significant damage on military and civilian targets.

Of course, Israeli media outlets at the time refused to share the extent of the damage, largely due to strict military censorship. But the significant damage – and consternation among Israeli defense officials – caused by Iran’s advanced hypersonic weapons is no longer undeniable. And that was just one example of the capabilities of Iran’s rapidly evolving systems.

Keep in mind that neither Israel nor the United States has a defense system against these weapons—Iron Dome is designed for much slower, more primitive missiles, not hypersonic missiles—or any reliable equivalents.

The Apocalypse Missile

The Apocalypse, Iran’s newest hypersonic weapon, was tested in Iran’s first major military exercise since the end of the 12-Day War. The Apocalypse is a hypersonic weapon capable of carrying up to 80 warheads, each weighing 70 kilograms, for a total payload that has “incredibly massive destructive power.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Iran’s new hypersonic weapon could reach speeds in excess of Mach 12 with a range of around 3,000 kilometers, allowing it to hit targets across the region with minimal warning.

Indeed, the name "Apocalypse" emphasizes the symbolic role of this weapon in Iranian military doctrine and signals a shift in Iranian doctrine that uses speed and multiplicity to overcome enemies.

Hypersonic missiles, like the Apocalypse, operate by combining ballistic trajectories with glide phases, reaching speeds of up to five times the speed of sound. Their ability to change course in flight makes them extremely difficult to detect and intercept, and they evade radars and missile shields.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow predictable arcs, hypersonic weapons traverse the atmosphere, reducing the response time for defenses to minutes. Iran’s advances in solid-fuel propulsion and maneuverable reentry vehicles (MaRVs) will increase this capability, potentially making systems like the U.S. Patriot or Israel’s David’s Sling missile defenses less effective.

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The missile therefore poses a serious threat to Israel. With a range that covers the distance from Tehran to Tel Aviv, the Doomsday missiles could reach Israeli territory in less than 10 minutes, leaving little time for evacuation or countermeasures.

During the June 2025 war, Iran’s use of hypersonic Fatah missiles rendered Israeli air defenses ineffective and hit sites in Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv, resulting in heavy casualties and damage to infrastructure. The multiple-warhead design of the “Doomsday” missile exacerbates this risk, enabling widespread strikes that could shatter Israel’s multi-layered defenses.

A warning to Israel and the United States

Analysts suspect that a full-scale attack could target key assets such as the Dimona nuclear reactor or Haifa ports, escalating the conflict to existential levels. Iranian officials have presented the missile as a deterrent to Israeli aggression, but its deployment signals a strategic shift toward an offensive posture as both sides prepare for the next round of war.

Equally worrisome are the implications for U.S. military bases in the Middle East. U.S. bases in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are all within range of Iran’s new hypersonic missile, making them vulnerable to rapid attacks.

The United States has bolstered regional defenses with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and carrier strike groups, but hypersonic weapons challenge these defenses. In past incidents, Iranian “proxies” have targeted U.S. forces at close range with drones and missiles; the doomsday missiles could enable direct attacks from Iran, raising the risk of escalating the conflict.

A U.S. Department of Defense assessment highlights Iran’s “large number” of advanced missiles as a growing threat that could potentially draw U.S. forces into a wider war if Israel were attacked.

On the other hand, some observers argue that true mastery of hypersonic missiles would require advanced materials and testing that Iran may lack. Furthermore, those skeptical of Iran’s claims argue that the multiple warhead feature is similar to MIRV technology, which Iranian forces have yet to demonstrate.

However, it is important to remember that Iran has already demonstrated a high level of advancement in this area; it would be a mistake to dismiss the doomsday missile threat as mere hype.

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What can Israel do about the threat of Iranian hypersonic weapons?

In response to the growing threat of Iranian hypersonic weapons, the Israelis are expanding the development of their Iron Beam program, a directed energy weapon (DEW) missile defense system. In other words, Israel is developing giant lasers that could potentially incinerate incoming hypersonic missiles from the sky.

The United States is doing something similar with its “Golden Dome” initiative. However, Western militaries have struggled with the development of DEWs for decades, and many of these programs are stuck in “development hell.” So it will be some time before either Israel or the United States can rely on these imaginary defenses. Meanwhile, Iran now has hypersonic weapons.

Iran’s doomsday hypersonic missile is the epitome of an escalating arms race in the Middle East, combining technological capabilities with psychological warfare. Its potential to threaten Israel and U.S. bases highlights the urgent need to de-escalate diplomatic tensions.

As regional powers arm themselves with more advanced weapons, the risk of miscalculation increases, potentially provoking a conflict with global consequences. Monitoring Iran’s missile advances remains crucial to maintaining the fragile peace in the region – and Israel may want to reconsider its commitment to restarting war against Iran.