Shahab-3 First Test (1998)

In July 1998, Iran conducted the first test flight of the Shahab-3 (شهاب ۳), a medium-range ballistic missile developed under Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam's direction. Based on the North Korean Nodong-1 design, the Shahab-3 had an estimated range of 1,300–1,500 km — sufficient to reach Israel, Saudi Arabia, and U.S. military bases in the Gulf region. The test was a major escalation in Iran's deterrence posture and prompted immediate concern from Western governments and Israel. Further tests followed in 2000 and 2003 before the missile entered operational service with the IRGC Aerospace Force. The Shahab-3 formed the backbone of Iran's strategic deterrent for over a decade and was the platform from which later variants, including the Ghadr-110 and Emad, were derived.