Iran Launches Zolfaghar Missile in True Promise-4, Targets US Bases in Gulf

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

The use of Zolfaghar solid-fuel missiles in waves 76 and 77 indicates a major shift in IRGC strategy toward rapid launch, high mobility, and sustained pressure on US military bases in the Middle East.

Iran's decision to introduce the Zolfaghar solid-fuel ballistic missile in the latest wave of Operation True Promise-4 marks a significant increase in the technical sophistication, launch readiness, and survivability of its regional attack posture against US-related military infrastructure in the Gulf and Iraq.

A statement attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the use of Zolfaghar missiles in the 76th and 77th waves of the ongoing campaign was part of a prolonged strategy of erosion of US and Israeli assets following the late February 2026 operation targeting Iranian positions.

The transition from liquid-fueled systems like Qiam to solid-fuel platforms with rapid launch capabilities indicates a deliberate adjustment in Iran's military posture to reduce vulnerability to preemptive strikes while maintaining the tempo of long-range ballistic and drone strikes on several strategic bases in the Gulf region.

The introduction of road-mobile solid-fuel ballistic missiles in later waves of the campaign suggests that Iranian military planners prioritized a more difficult-to-destroy launch architecture and a shorter decision-to-launch timeline to ensure that the cycle of repeated attacks could be sustained under the pressure of constant surveillance.

By operating missiles that can be launched with minimal preparation, the IRGC Aerospace Force has increased its ability to conduct scattered launch operations, thus making it difficult for opponents to calculate targets and try to neutralize the launcher unit before the missile launch can be carried out.

This change also reflects a shift towards an operational model where missile forces are expected to remain active throughout prolonged confrontations, rather than simply carrying out limited counterattacks, thus requiring a platform that can withstand continuous detection and repeated interception attempts.