A UK cabinet minister has stated that there is „no assessment to substantiate“ claims made by Israel regarding Iran’s possession of long-range missiles capable of reaching London.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized that there is „no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK – or even could if they wanted to,“ following statements from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that Tehran has developed weapons with a range of up to 4,000km (2,485 miles).
Context of the Claims
This statement comes in light of reports indicating that Iran has targeted a joint US-UK military base located on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, approximately 3,800km from Iran.
During an incident overnight into Friday, Iran launched two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia. One missile failed and fell short, while the other was intercepted.
Responses from the IDF
In response to the attempted attack, the IDF reiterated claims made last year, asserting that Iran intended to develop missiles capable of reaching Europe, Asia, and Africa. They stated, „We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin,“ in a social media post.
Reed’s Assurance
When questioned about the validity of these claims, Reed maintained that there is „no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK or even could, if they wanted to.“ He assured that the UK is well-equipped to protect itself, stating, „We are perfectly capable of protecting this country and keeping this country safe, whether it’s here at home, or whether it’s our assets and nationals across the region,“ during an interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
When pressed further about the IDF’s assertions, Reed reiterated, „There is no assessment to substantiate what’s being said.“ He added that even if Iran had the capability to launch strikes at such distances, the British armed forces would be able to defend the UK effectively.
Iran’s Missile Capabilities
Experts believe that the longest-range weapon in Iran’s arsenal has a maximum range of 2,000km, which is significantly less than the distances to both Diego Garcia and London.
Bildquelle: ai-generated-gemini
