Housing Secretary Steve Reed reassures the public that Iran lacks the missile range to strike British cities, amid heightened regional tensions. During a recent television interview, Reed emphasized there is no specific assessment confirming Iranian missiles can cover the approximately 4,400 kilometers to the UK.
Iran’s Attack on Diego Garcia Base
Reed addressed Iran’s recent assault on the UK military base at Diego Garcia, located about 3,800 kilometers from Iran. He confirmed the Iranians targeted the base, but one missile fell short while the other was successfully intercepted. “Our assessment is that the Iranians certainly targeted Diego Garcia,” Reed stated. “As we understand, one missile fell short, failed, the other was intercepted and prevented.”
He noted that such actions align with Iran’s pattern of “recklessly firing missiles around the region.” This prompted the UK to join allies in collective defense efforts to safeguard British interests and partners in the Middle East.
Questions on UK’s Vulnerability
When pressed on whether Iran possesses the capability to hit the UK, Reed highlighted defensive successes: “The point here is they didn’t hit Diego Garcia. We have the capabilities on the ground to intercept and prevent what they are doing.”
Journalist Laura Kuenssberg challenged him further, asking why Israel’s armed forces warned that Iran could target European nations including the UK. Reed declined to speculate on Israel’s claims, stating she would need to direct that question to them. He added, “There is no assessment to substantiate what is being said.”
Reed refused to disclose exact missile ranges, explaining it could aid Iran. Instead, he affirmed the UK’s robust defenses: “There is no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK or even could if they wanted to. We have the finest military in the world. We are perfectly capable of protecting this country and keeping this country safe, whether it is here at home or our assets and nationals across the region.”
On concerns about potential strikes on Europe, Reed stated: “I’m not aware of any assessment at all that they are even trying to target Europe, let alone that they could if they tried. But even if they did, we have the necessary military capability to defend this country and defend the British national interest.”
