Iran Warns UK Over US Base Use Amid Missile Attack Reports

Iran fired two ballistic missiles toward the British-US military base on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean on Friday, marking the longest-range attack in the country’s recent military operations. While one missile failed mid-flight and the other was intercepted by a US Navy warship, the attempt demonstrated Iran’s capability to strike targets far beyond the Middle East, a capability previously downplayed by Iranian officials.

The attack occurred shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of endangering British lives by granting the United States expanded access to UK bases for potential strikes against Iran. Araghchi invoked Iran’s right to self-defense in a series of social media posts, following the announcement of increased permissions for US operations.

Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK facility, is approximately 4,000 kilometers from the Iranian mainland. Prior to this incident, Iranian officials, including Araghchi, had maintained that the country’s ballistic missile range was deliberately limited to 2,000 kilometers, characterizing its missile program as strictly defensive. The strike on Diego Garcia, contradicts previous assertions and confirms suspicions that Iran possesses intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) with a range of 3,000-5,500 kilometers.

The missiles used in the attack represent a significant escalation in Iran’s capabilities, bridging the gap between medium-range ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Western analysts have long warned of Iran’s potential to develop and deploy such weapons, citing the country’s space program as a key area of concern.

The timing of the attack also coincides with a recent decision by Britain to allow US bombers stationed at UK airbases to potentially strike Iranian military operations targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This move prompted Araghchi’s condemnation of Starmer and the invocation of Iran’s right to self-defense.

Military experts have noted that the range of the missiles used in the attack exceeds previously known Iranian capabilities. While the maximum range of Iranian missiles was thought to be 2,000km, the distance from Iran to Diego Garcia is approximately 3,800km. Gen Sir Richard Barrons told BBC Radio4’s Today programme that British interests were now in Iran’s sights.

The US military has not yet released a detailed assessment of the attempted attack, and the extent of any damage to Diego Garcia remains unclear. No statement has been issued regarding potential retaliatory measures.