Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has stated that there is “no assessment” indicating that the UK is being targeted by Iranian missiles.
This statement follows claims made last week by the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, that Iran possesses weapons capable of reaching distances of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles).
The IDF further asserted that the Iranian regime represents “a global threat,” alleging that Iran’s missiles “can reach London, Paris, or Berlin”.
The IDF’s announcement came after an attempted Iranian attack on the joint UK-US base located on Diego Garcia – in the Chagos Islands – during the night from Thursday to Friday.
Diego Garcia is situated approximately 3,800 kilometers (2,360 miles) from Iran and hosts an airbase that can accommodate long-range US bombers.
When questioned on Monday morning about whether the UK falls within the range of Iranian missiles, Starmer responded to the media, “We conduct assessments regularly to ensure our safety, and there is no assessment indicating that we are being targeted in that manner at all.
“However, it is my responsibility to prioritize British interests and the safety of British lives.
“What is required here is de-escalation, which is why a statement was issued last week by several countries regarding the necessary actions concerning the Strait of Hormuz, which clearly requires careful coordination and a feasible plan.
“It is crucial that we protect our interests and safeguard British lives, but we must do so without becoming embroiled in the conflict, and that is the distinct boundary I have established.”
To reach London, an Iranian missile would need to travel approximately 2,700 miles.
As the conflict continues to intensify, the UK has confirmed that it is authorizing the use of British military bases to target Iranian missile launchers that are threatening commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as my colleagues have reported here.
Previously, UK bases were utilized solely for strikes against Iranian sites that posed threats to British allies and interests in Gulf states.