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Iran fires missiles at US-UK base in Chagos Islands
The UK Ministry of Defence has condemned Iran for launching two ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK military installation on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, according to reports confirmed by multiple sources. Neither missile reached its target, with one failing mid-flight and the other intercepted by a US warship.
Timing and capabilities under scrutiny
The exact timing of the attack remains unclear, but it occurred before the UK granted the US permission to use British military bases for strikes against Iranian sites targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident raises questions about Iran's missile capabilities, as Diego Garcia lies approximately 2,350 miles from Iran-well beyond the previously estimated 1,250-mile range of Tehran's intermediate ballistic missiles.
Military analysts, including those at Israel's Alma Research and Education Center, suggest Iran's Khorramshahr missile may have a range of up to 1,800 miles, though this remains unconfirmed.
UK expands military role amid regional tensions
On Friday, the UK government expanded its justification for allowing US strikes from British bases to include Iranian sites threatening vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies. The decision, framed as "collective self-defence," marks a shift from London's earlier stance, which limited strikes to threats against UK interests and allies.
US President Donald Trump had previously criticized NATO allies, including the UK, for their cautious approach, calling them "cowards" for not contributing warships to secure the waterway. Trump also recently described the UK's agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as a "big mistake," despite his administration's earlier support for the deal.
Political fallout and diplomatic warnings
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the UK's participation in US strikes "puts British lives in danger" and reaffirmed Tehran's right to self-defence. Domestically, the decision has sparked debate, with the Liberal Democrats and Greens demanding a parliamentary vote, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it the "mother of all U-turns."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to convene a Cobra meeting next week to address rising living costs linked to the conflict's impact on energy markets. The International Energy Agency expects oil supply disruptions to ripple through global energy prices.
Chagos Islands sovereignty dispute lingers
The Chagos Islands, a British territory since 1814, are at the center of a long-standing sovereignty dispute. The UK has agreed to transfer control to Mauritius but will lease back Diego Garcia to maintain the military base. Sir Keir has defended the deal as necessary to preserve the base's operations, despite opposition from Mauritius, which claims it was coerced into relinquishing the islands in 1965.
Chagossians, forcibly removed in the 1960s to make way for the base, have also voiced opposition to the agreement.
Broader regional escalation
Iran has intensified strikes against nations hosting US facilities, including Israel, which has retaliated with its own military actions. Earlier this month, Tehran launched drones at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, one of which struck the runway, causing minor damage. In response, the UK deployed HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, to bolster defences in the region.
"Iran's reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies."
UK Ministry of Defence
