Iran’s Missile Power and Layered Deterrence
Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, stated: “Over the past three decades, Iran has faced limitations in using up-to-date fighter jets due to sanctions, and for this reason, it has focused on strengthening its missile and drone capabilities.” According to this university instructor, “The sanctions of the past three decades have caused Iran to focus on missile and drone industries instead of strengthening its air force, and this has allowed it to exert more control over the country’s skies through asymmetric tools.”
From Bakhshayesh Ardestani’s perspective, “This strategic focus not only increases the cost for regional rivals to undertake potential military action against our country but also strengthens Iran’s capability for long-term deterrence.” The international affairs analyst said: “This layered deterrence includes the ability to conduct missile attacks deep into enemy territory and the threat of targeting vital lines, which has shifted strategic equations in Iran’s favor.”
This university professor said: “The combination of missile and drone capabilities allows Iran to manage multiple fronts simultaneously and exert significant pressure on enemies without complete reliance on the air force. Consequently, these capabilities, especially in the age of drones and missiles, allow Iran to act as a key regional player, even when facing countries that have advanced fighter jets.”

The Impact of Drones on Regional Dynamics
The international affairs expert pointed to Iran’s drone capacity and emphasized: “The vast scope of drone operations, especially after the experience of the 12-day war, showed that drones can rapidly change regional equations.”
Bakhshayesh Ardestani explained in this context that “Drones not only reduce the cost of operations but also create a capability for asymmetric deterrence.” He stressed that “Drone capability complements missile capability and allows Iran to control the aerial arena and operational pressure without relying on advanced fighter jets.”
According to him, “Iran’s capacity to sustain an imposed or unwanted war is much greater than countries that have only invested in complex fighter jets. Therefore, drones, combined with missiles, allow Iran to have the upper hand both in defense and in establishing regional deterrence, while also increasing the cost of the enemy’s response.”
Bakhshayesh Ardestani further emphasized: “One of the main reasons for Iran’s focus on strengthening missile and drone capabilities is cost optimization. New-generation fighter jets are expensive weapons systems, both in initial purchase and in maintenance, pilot training, and combat operations.” He stated: “Compared to complex fighter jets, using missiles and drones is less costly and makes sustaining long-term operations easier.”
The university instructor explained that “This strategy practically increases Iran’s resilience in an unwanted or imposed war and allows Iran to maintain its deterrence power without severe financial pressure.” Bakhshayesh Ardestani further emphasized that “These tools can be a relative substitute for a complex air force. Meaning, while we should move towards purchasing advanced fighter jets, focusing on missiles and drones has a strategic advantage.”
The international affairs expert added: “This strategy allows Iran to create dispersed and layered deterrence without incurring the exorbitant costs of advanced fighter jets.”
Bakhshayesh Ardestani emphasized: “Despite possessing significant capability in the field of missiles and drones, Iran still has limitations in the areas of air defense and advanced fighter jets.”
The international affairs expert explained that “By combining missiles and drones, Iran has been able to manage regional threats and create diverse leverage points.” This university instructor said that “This layered deterrence allows our country to respond to crises with greater flexibility and balance enemy threats without complete reliance on the air force.”
Finally, Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani concluded that “By combining missile and drone capabilities, Iran can act as an important regional actor, in such a way that even when facing rivals with advanced fighter jets, it has managed to create more sustainable deterrence.”