Iran’s Failed Diego Garcia Strike Used Intermediate‑Range Missiles Able to Reach Much of Europe, IDF Says, as UK Deploys HMS Anson to Arabian Sea
Israel and U.S. officials say Iran fired long‑range ballistic missiles at the U.K.–U.S. base on Diego Garcia in a failed strike—one missile reportedly malfunctioned and the other was intercepted—while Israeli commanders and reporting by the Wall Street Journal describe the weapons as intermediate‑range systems capable of reaching much of Europe. Britain has deployed the nuclear‑powered attack submarine HMS Anson to the northern Arabian Sea and authorized U.S. use of British bases for defensive operations to degrade Iranian missile threats, a step Tehran warned could amount to participation in aggression.
📌 Key Facts
- Iran launched missiles toward the U.K.–U.S. base on Diego Garcia (which hosts about 2,500 U.S. personnel); the strike was unsuccessful — one missile reportedly failed in flight and a second was fired at by a U.S. warship using an SM‑3 interceptor, though it is unclear whether the interceptor destroyed the missile.
- Israel’s chief of staff and other Israeli officials described the weaponry as long‑range/two‑stage missiles (IDF cited a ~4,000 km/2,500‑mile capability aimed at an American target on Diego Garcia), while analysts and reporting also characterized the launch as the first operational use of intermediate‑range ballistic missiles that can reach much of Europe.
- Experts quoted in the coverage said Iran may have repurposed a space‑launch vehicle or that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is driving a missile‑range expansion beyond Iran’s prior ~2,000 km self‑imposed cap, raising questions about Tehran’s growing strike envelope and technical methods.
- The episode reinforced prior U.S. warnings about Iran’s long‑range missile development and was cited by some U.S. and allied commentators as validating concerns used to justify recent military planning (including Operation Epic Fury in some accounts).
- The U.K. has deployed the nuclear‑powered attack submarine HMS Anson from HMAS Stirling to operate in the northern Arabian Sea and has authorized U.S. use of British bases (including Diego Garcia) for "defensive operations" intended to degrade Iranian missile capabilities; Downing Street said Britain did not take part in the initial strikes and is not seeking to be drawn into a wider war.
- Iranian officials protested U.K. cooperation with the U.S., calling it participation in aggression; Iran’s judiciary reported a separate strike on the Natanz enrichment facility with no reported radiation leakage, and the IAEA said most of Iran’s roughly 440 kg of enriched uranium is believed to be at Isfahan under rubble with less at Natanz.
- The conflict has also directly affected Israel: Iranian missiles struck southern Israeli cities including Dimona and Arad, injuring dozens (some seriously) near Israel’s main nuclear research center; Israeli officials said their defenses failed to intercept those strikes and warned the war is "not close to ending."
📊 Relevant Data
The Iranian diaspora in the United Kingdom has grown to approximately 114,000 Iranian-born individuals as of the 2021/22 census, representing about 0.2% of the UK's population, with significant growth between 2015 and 2024 due to migration trends.
Joy of UK's Iranian diaspora turning to fear as conflict rocks homeland — Reuters
Black and Hispanic households in the United States experience energy burdens 1.5 to 2 times higher than White households, with energy cost burdens averaging 3.5% of income for low-income Black households compared to 2.3% for White households, which can be exacerbated by oil price volatility from Iran tensions.
Race, rates, and energy insecurity: exploring racial disparities in utility affordability and hardship interventions — PMC (Policies for Action)
Iran's military, including the IRGC, is predominantly composed of Shia Muslims, aligning with Iran's overall population where Shia constitute 90-95% and Sunnis 5-10%, with reports of systemic discrimination against Sunni minorities in recruitment and broader societal roles.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards: The Spine of a Militarized State — The New York Times
Iran's newly demonstrated intermediate-range ballistic missiles have a range of approximately 4,000 km, placing major European capitals such as Berlin, Paris, and Rome within direct striking distance, expanding threats beyond the Middle East.
'Europe within Iranian missiles range': IDF warns after Diego Garcia strike — The Times of India
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Reports that Royal Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Anson has been deployed from HMAS Stirling near Perth, Australia to operate in the northern Arabian Sea, roughly 5,500 miles away, positioning the UK for rapid response if the conflict with Iran escalates.
- UK media accounts that the deployment followed a UK government decision to allow the United States to use British bases for "defensive operations" aimed at degrading Iranian missile sites threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while declining to support initial offensive strikes.
- Downing Street statement stressing that Britain aims to 'degrade the missile sites and capabilities' used in attacks on ships but 'didn’t participate in the initial strikes' and is 'not getting drawn into the wider war.'
- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s claim that he told UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that Britain’s decision to let the U.S. use its bases amounted to 'participation in aggression' and his warning that UK cooperation with U.S. or Israeli military action could escalate the conflict.
- Confirmation that Diego Garcia hosts about 2,500 U.S. military personnel and that one of the two Iranian missiles reportedly failed in flight while the other was intercepted before reaching the base.
- IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir publicly stated that Iran launched a two‑stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a 4,000‑km (2,500‑mile) range toward an American target on Diego Garcia and that the missiles were not intended for Israel.
- IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani posted on X accusing Tehran of lying about not possessing long‑range missiles and saying the 4,000‑km shot exposed those lies.
- Experts quoted argue that the launch shows the IRGC is likely driving missile‑range expansion after Ali Khamenei’s death, having previously been blocked from going beyond 2,000 km.
- The article reports that one of the two long‑range missiles failed in flight and that a U.S. warship fired an SM‑3 interceptor at the other, though it is unclear if the interceptor destroyed the missile.
- Jason Brodsky of United Against Nuclear Iran is quoted saying the Trump administration was justified in citing Iran’s missile threat as a rationale for Operation Epic Fury, and warning against relying on Iranian ‘fatwas’ or public rhetoric in U.S. policy.
- Wall Street Journal reports Iran’s Diego Garcia attack was its first‑ever operational use of intermediate‑range ballistic missiles.
- Article emphasizes these missiles can fly far enough to hit much of Europe, not just Diego Garcia, confirming a broader strike envelope.
- Piece reiterates that the Trump administration had cited Iran’s work on missiles potentially capable of reaching the U.S. as part of its war rationale, tying the demonstrated test to those earlier warnings.
- Article confirms Iran targeted the joint U.K.–U.S. base at Diego Garcia on Friday and that the strike was unsuccessful, with the U.K. Ministry of Defense describing Iran as 'lashing out' and 'holding hostage' the Strait of Hormuz.
- Military experts quoted here raise the possibility that Iran used a space‑launch vehicle for an improvised firing, while Israel’s army chief characterizes the weapon as 'a two‑stage intercontinental ballistic missile,' a more aggressive description than earlier analyses.
- Iran’s judiciary news agency Mizan reports a new strike on the Natanz enrichment facility with no radiation leakage, and the IAEA states that most of Iran’s approximately 970 pounds (440 kg) of enriched uranium is believed to be at Isfahan under rubble, with only a lesser amount at Natanz.
- Israel’s military tells reporters it is 'not aware' of any Israeli strike on Natanz, and the Pentagon declines comment, underscoring ongoing ambiguity over who carried out the latest attack.
- Israeli military confirms its defenses failed to intercept Iranian missiles that struck the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, injuring dozens, some seriously, near Israel’s main nuclear research center.
- Israel’s army chief Gen. Eyal Zamir states that “the war is not close to ending,” framing expectations for the conflict’s duration.
- U.K. Ministry of Defence characterizes Iran as “lashing out across the region” after the attempted strike on Diego Garcia, and Britain has authorized use of Diego Garcia by U.S. bombers to attack Iranian missile sites.
- The article underscores uncertainty over Iran’s leadership, noting Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since being named to the role, and that more than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran during the war according to Iranian state media.
- Experts quoted say Iran may have repurposed a space‑launch vehicle for the long‑range Diego Garcia shot, while Israel’s army chief calls the weapon a “two‑stage intercontinental ballistic missile,” suggesting a potential capability beyond Iran’s previously declared 2,000‑km range cap.