How Iran’s 2000 Ballistic Missiles Shift the Nuclear Negotiation Power Dynamics with the US

Analysts suggest that Iran’s tough stance in nuclear negotiations with the U.S. is due to its missile capabilities.

On the 8th, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, “Iran is believed to possess approximately 2,000 medium-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets across the Middle East. Additionally, it has a substantial number of short-range missiles that can strike U.S. military bases in the Gulf region and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as anti-ship cruise missiles.”

Experts believe that Iran’s missile capabilities serve as a deterrent against military conflict with the U.S. Iran’s missile attack potential is sufficient to threaten the entire Middle East, making it difficult for the U.S. to launch an attack on Iran.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington-based think tank, stated, “In the absence of a real air force and air defense network, and with its nuclear capabilities significantly reduced, ballistic missiles have become the core of Iran’s deterrence strategy.” He added, “These missiles serve as a Swiss Army knife, simultaneously fulfilling the roles of coercion, defense, and punishment.”

The Trump administration also views Iran’s missiles as a serious threat. According to the WSJ, “Due to concerns about Iranian missile retaliation and considering the local troop situation, President Trump ultimately chose to postpone the planned attack on Iran that was scheduled for mid-last month.” Subsequently, the U.S. military deployed additional missile defense systems in the Middle East.

While Iran’s missile capabilities were considered weak during the Islamic Revolution, they have since improved significantly. Particularly in the “12-Day War” in June 2025, U.S. bunker-buster bombs inflicted severe damage on Iran, but reports suggest that its primary weapons systems remained largely intact.

The WSJ noted, “For decades, Iran has been dedicated to ballistic missile development, emulating Russian and U.S. technologies. As the war progressed, Iran mastered methods to penetrate Israeli and U.S. air defenses and launch more of its own missiles.”

Reports indicate that Iran claims its missile capabilities have compelled the U.S. to choose dialogue over military action.

Last week, Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, head of the political bureau of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), unveiled a new medium-range ballistic missile and stated, “The U.S. has returned to the negotiating table with a ‘humble’ attitude.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking at a forum in Tehran, declared, “No one has the right to dictate how we should act. We will never tolerate ‘zero enrichment.'”

On the 6th, the U.S. and Iran held talks in Muscat, Oman, to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue. This comes eight months after dialogue was suspended following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington D.C. on the 11th to discuss Iran nuclear negotiations with President Trump.