Iran Missile Threat to London: UK Response & Capabilities

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed on Sunday that Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities now extend to reaching London, Paris, and Berlin, following a recent attack on a UK-US military base in Diego Garcia. The assertion, reported by the Telegraph and other news outlets, comes after Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles towards the Chagos Islands base earlier this week.

One missile was intercepted by a US warship, while the other failed in flight, according to reports. The IDF stated, “We have been saying it: the Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat,” adding that the missile launches demonstrate Iran’s expanded reach. The Sunday Times reported that military and intelligence sources described the launches as a “warning message to Europe.”

The distance from Iran to Diego Garcia is approximately 3,800 kilometers, and the attack has prompted concern about Iran’s ability to strike European capitals. A map developed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) illustrates the potential range of Iranian missiles, showing that most of the UK falls within a 2,500-mile theoretical range, with the exception of Northern Ireland and parts of northwest Scotland. The ISW noted that the attack on Diego Garcia “upends some assumptions about the Iranian missile programme” and the threat to Europe.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the attack on Diego Garcia as “reckless” but emphasized that the UK was not involved in offensive strikes against Iran. She affirmed the UK’s commitment to defensive action to protect its interests, including countering threats to international shipping and its Gulf partners. However, she also stated the UK is not involved in offensive action.

Despite the IDF’s claims, UK Minister Steve Reed stated there was no assessment that Iran is capable of striking London, according to the BBC. This contrasts with warnings from Keir Starmer, who had been informed that Iranian long-range missiles now have the capability of hitting London. The Independent reported that the range of the strike on Diego Garcia, roughly 2,360 miles from Iran, is less than the distance from Iran to the UK.

The attack on Diego Garcia, a joint UK-US military base, has raised questions about the UK’s defence preparedness. The Sunday Express reported that British and European drone manufacturers have diverted resources to other markets due to a “lack of demand and urgency” at the UK’s Ministry of Defence.