Iran has been able to develop an extensive missile arsenal, which is most likely the largest in the Middle East, a new report by the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
"The size and sophistication of Iran's missile force continues to grow despite decades of counterproliferation efforts aimed at curbing its advancement," the study by the US Defense Intelligence Agency, titled "Iran Military Power", said.
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The Islamic republic's arsenal includes ballistic missiles that could strike its regional foes at ranges of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), the report said.
In the absence of a modern air force, "Iran has embraced ballistic missiles as a long-range strike capability to dissuade its adversaries in the region – particularly the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia – from attacking Iran."
Tehran also uses unconventional warfare operations and a network of militant partners and proxies to advance its interests in the region, with the aim of obtaining "strategic depth," the study said, adding that military buildup efforts serve two important objectives, namely "ensuring the survival of the regime and securing a dominant position in the region."
The report further noted that Iran "provides financial, political, training, and material support" to Hizballah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the Afghan Taliban.
"Tehran does not seek to return the Taliban to power, but aims to maintain influence with the group as a hedge in the event that the Taliban gains a role in a future Afghan government," the report said.
Much of this effort stems from the fact that Iran remains "implacably opposed to the United States and its presence in the Middle East."
DIA Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley said that Iran "sees itself as closer than ever to achieving its goals."
"By applying a rigorous lessons-learned process during decades of conflict in the Middle East, Iran has adapted its military capabilities and doctrine to account for developments by the United States and its allies. Although still technologically inferior to most of its competitors, the Iranian military has progressed substantially over the past few decades," Ashley noted in the introduction to the report.
Iran would develop its defense capability faster if it were not for a UN-mandated arms embargo for most weapons that is set to expire in October 2020, he warned.
