The UK government has dismissed claims that Iran could strike London with long-range missiles, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise. The statement comes after an attempted Iranian strike on a joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, adding to concerns over Tehran’s military capabilities.
UK Housing Secretary Steve Reed said there is “no assessment to substantiate” the claim that Iran possesses missiles capable of reaching the United Kingdom. He stressed there is no evidence Iran could target Britain “even if it wanted to,” directly contradicting statements made by the Israeli military.
This follows reports that Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands, around 3,800 kilometers away. One missile failed during flight, while the other was intercepted by a US warship.
Israel, however, insists that Iran is developing missiles with a range of up to 4,000 kilometers, potentially capable of striking European cities such as London, Paris, and Berlin. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tehran has the “capacity to reach deep into Europe.”
Experts are more cautious. According to security analysts, extending missile range often comes at the cost of accuracy, making long-distance strikes less effective and harder to deploy in practice.
Meanwhile, the UK has expanded its military role in the region, allowing the US to use British bases for operations under “collective self-defence,” particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.