Iran to increase missile range as US forces retreat from the Gulf

• Iran says it plans to increase the range of its long-range missiles after the war with the United States.
• Tehran has warned it is prepared for renewed military action while continuing to call for diplomacy.

Iran plans to increase the range of its long-range missiles after concluding during the war with the United States that its existing capabilities need to reach farther, Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said.

“During this war, we concluded that we absolutely must increase the range of our missiles, and we have now moved in that direction,” Akraminia told Fars news agency.

He said the move comes as US forces are now positioned as far as 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Iran’s coast.

The statement signals that Iran is seeking to adjust its missile capabilities in response to changes in the positioning of US forces in the region. The exact range Iran intends to achieve was not disclosed.

The announcement came as Iranian officials continued to warn that Tehran is prepared for renewed military confrontation while keeping the door open to negotiations.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told ambassadors and representatives of foreign missions in Tehran on Sunday that Iran hopes Washington will choose diplomacy rather than military action.

“We hope the United States will choose the path of wisdom and reason, but if it again moves toward military solutions, we are more prepared than before and will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves,” Araghchi said.

Araghchi also said Iran remained ready for a negotiated solution and that neither military action nor additional sanctions could resolve the conflict.

The missile announcement comes amid a diplomatic standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran making the reopening of the strategic waterway a central condition in discussions with Washington.

Iranian officials have said the strait could fully reopen within seven days if the conditions set by Tehran are accepted and the US blockade is lifted. Reuters reported on Sunday that Iran says the waterway will remain closed until Washington meets seven conditions outlined in a June memorandum of understanding.

Iran's Foreign Ministry has also said Tehran is currently prioritizing the reopening of the strait, while the US continues to focus heavily on the nuclear issue.

The developments leave diplomacy and military preparedness running in parallel, with Tehran warning of a stronger response to any renewed attack while continuing to push for a negotiated resolution.