Evidence is mounting that Iran used beefed-up rockets

Mounting evidence indicates the Iranian rocket recently used to launch a satellite into space was a more advanced two-stage, rather than three-stage, vehicle. According to the calculations of  David Wright of the Ploughshares-funded Union of Concerned Scientists, a more advanced two-stage rocket is more likely.  Geoffrey Forden of MIT reports that “a three-stage vehicle could never lift a nuclear warhead very far. But you can use this two-stage vehicle with more powerful fuel to lift a nuclear warhead farther." Europe would be within range of missiles launched from Iran either way, says Forden. However, even the more advanced rocket could not carry a nuclear warhead as far as the U.S., Wright says.

New Scientist