Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the joint U.S.-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, roughly 2,360 miles from Iran, Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.
According to sources cited by CNN, one missile was intercepted by a U.S. warship and the other failed mid-flight.
The strike marks the first known missile attack directed at Diego Garcia amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. Israel’s military chief claimed Iran used a two-stage missile with a 2,500-mile range, far exceeding Iran’s previously stated 1,250-mile limit. The range puts European capitals like Berlin, Paris, and Rome within potential strike distance.
The U.K. condemned the strikes. “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,” a spokesperson for the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense said Saturday.
Analysts say the latest incident, even though unsuccessful, could indicate Iran’s expanded missile capability.
Iranian officials have previously said the country has restricted its missile range to avoid threatening other nations. In an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran had intentionally kept its missiles below 1,250 miles “because we don’t want to be felt as a threat by anybody else in the world.”
The attack was reported to have occurred just hours before U.K. ministers gathered in London to discuss the war in Iran.
At that meeting, the U.K. agreed to allow the U.S. to use its military bases for collective self-defence operations, including strikes on Iranian missile sites targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the UK “should have acted a lot faster,” while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Starmer was “putting British lives in danger.”
Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-U.S. war of choice on Iran.
Ignoring his own People, Mr. Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defense.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 20, 2026
“Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-U.S. war of choice on Iran,” Araghchi wrote on X. “Ignoring his own people, Mr. Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defense.”
