Iranian state media announced the deployment of the solid-fueled Qassem Basir missile, which officials described as marking a strategic shift toward preemptive action against perceived threats, though it remains unverified whether this specific system was involved in recent incidents.

This announcement follows a U.S. statement that it intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles launched at its warships and retaliated by striking three Iranian oil tankers, an exchange experts identified as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.