Iran’s Failed Diego Garcia Strike Used Intermediate‑Range Missiles Able to Reach Much of Europe, IDF Says
Israel’s military and multiple outlets say Iran launched long‑range, two‑stage missiles toward the U.K.–U.S. base at Diego Garcia in a failed strike — one missile reportedly failed in flight and another may have been intercepted by a U.S. SM‑3 — an attack London described as “lashing out.” The IDF and the Wall Street Journal say the weapons were intermediate‑range (the IDF cited roughly 4,000 km), a reach that would put much of Europe within Iran’s strike envelope, while analysts note Iran may have improvised the launch using space‑launch technology amid other regional strikes and attribution uncertainties.
📌 Key Facts
- Iran launched missiles at the joint U.K.–U.S. base on Diego Garcia on Friday; the strike was reported unsuccessful. The U.K. Ministry of Defence characterized Iran as “lashing out” and warned Tehran was “holding hostage” the Strait of Hormuz; Britain has authorized use of Diego Garcia by U.S. bombers against Iranian missile sites.
- Israel’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said Iran fired a two‑stage, ~4,000‑km weapon toward an American target on Diego Garcia and stressed the missiles were not intended for Israel. IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani posted that the launch exposed Tehran’s long‑range missile capabilities.
- Reports say two long‑range missiles were involved: one reportedly failed in flight and a U.S. warship fired an SM‑3 interceptor at the other, but it is unclear whether the interceptor destroyed the missile.
- Military analysts and experts suggested Iran may have repurposed a space‑launch vehicle for the Diego Garcia shot or otherwise expanded missile range capability, and multiple outlets described the attack as the first operational use of intermediate‑range ballistic missiles by Iran.
- The demonstrated missiles have a strike envelope that can reach much of Europe, expanding Iran’s potential reach beyond the previously cited ~2,000‑km cap and renewing security concerns in Europe and among U.S. allies.
- Separately, Iranian missiles struck southern Israeli cities including Dimona and Arad, injuring dozens near Israel’s main nuclear research center; Israeli officials said their defenses failed to intercept those strikes. Gen. Zamir warned the war is not close to ending.
- There is continued ambiguity over recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites: Iran’s judiciary agency reported a new strike on Natanz with no radiation leakage, the IAEA said most of Iran’s enriched uranium is believed buried under rubble at Isfahan, Israel said it was “not aware” of any strike on Natanz, and the Pentagon declined to comment.
📊 Relevant Data
The Iranian-American population in the United States has grown to approximately 750,000 as of 2024, representing 0.2% of the total U.S. population, with significant concentrations in California (about 210,000 individuals, or 0.54% of the state's population).
7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
Protests in Iran have highlighted discrimination against ethnic minorities, including Sunnis, who make up about 5-10% of the population, amid economic and political failures of the regime, exacerbating sectarian divides during the ongoing war.
Iran and the Shia-Sunni power struggle in the Middle East — Századvég
The war in the Middle East has caused food prices to surge, with flour prices in Gaza increasing by 270% in two days, and global disruptions in fertilizer supplies (up to 30% normally transiting the Strait of Hormuz) leading to higher food inflation, disproportionately affecting low-income populations in vulnerable regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Gulf countries.
Effects of the Middle East Conflict: Fuel Prices, Civilians and Hunger — World Food Program USA
Iran's enriched uranium stockpile includes 440.9 kg at up to 60% purity, stored mostly at an underground complex in Isfahan, with production continuing despite attacks, as reported by the IAEA.
IAEA report says Iran must allow inspections, points at Isfahan — Reuters
Iran does not currently possess an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. homeland, but its arsenal includes missiles with ranges up to 2,000 km, and estimates suggest it could have up to 8,000 ballistic missiles by 2027 if production continues.
Iran could reach 8000 ballistic missiles by next year, Israeli military says — Iran International
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- 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.