Iran's Guard says missile range limit is lifted as diplomacy continues

As of 9:25 p.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026

A spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guard has said that a self-imposed limit on the range of Iran's missiles "has been lifted," according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi made the remark Saturday, Nov. 7, on the sidelines of a press conference in Tehran, Tasnim reported. He was asked whether a recent directive from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, calling for an immediate response to any threat without geographical restrictions, meant that range limits had been removed. "This restriction has been lifted for us," he said.

Mohebbi said Iran must show such capabilities in practice rather than talk about them. "Our duty is to show our capabilities on the battlefield," he said, according to Tasnim.

What the limit was

The Associated Press reported that the limit Iran had set for itself was 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), a range that covers parts of Greece and the Balkans, the entire Arabian Peninsula, the Levant and most of Egypt. Mohebbi did not say whether Iran has missiles that can exceed it, AP said. AP also reported that Iran is not known to have such missiles, though U.S. officials have said technology from Iran's space program could be repurposed to build intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Tasnim said the remarks followed a meeting between Khamenei and senior military commanders. At that meeting, it said, he ordered a comprehensive update of the military target database to bring U.S. and Israeli assets within reach of Iran's armed forces.

Qatar says mediation continues

Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said Saturday, Nov. 7, that his country's mediation between the United States and Iran was continuing to keep the situation in the region from spiraling out of control, Reuters reported, citing Al Jazeera. He said significant progress had been made and that the U.S. administration remained willing to find a solution even after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. "We cannot wait to reach a perfect agreement; we hope to reach a good agreement," he said.

Washington's response

President Donald Trump told CNN on Sunday, Nov. 8, that it was "highly unlikely" he would need to order the U.S. back to war with Iran as long as negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz made progress. "It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," he said. "I would if necessary."

Trump also told CNN that Iran retains 10% of its missile capacity and 15% of its drone capacity. He did not say how he arrived at those figures, and they could not be independently verified.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a breakthrough did not appear close, CNN reported. "I wouldn't say we're on the verge of a breakthrough," he told reporters in Florida. He said Iran's demands were "not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous."