A UK cabinet minister has stated that there is no evidence to support Israel's claim that Iran has long-range missiles capable of reaching London. Housing Secretary Steve Reed made this statement in an interview with the BBC.
Reed's comments come after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Tehran had weapons with a range of up to 4,000km (2,485 miles). The IDF also claimed that Iran had intended to develop missiles capable of reaching Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The UK minister refused to provide details on the distance Iranian missiles came to the British overseas territory of Diego Garcia, which was targeted by Iran. According to Reed, Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the joint US-UK military base, one of which failed and fell short, while the other was intercepted.
Iranian Missile Capabilities
The longest-range weapon in Iran's arsenal is thought to have a maximum range of 2,000km, far short of both Diego Garcia and London. Iran's foreign minister previously stated that the country had deliberately capped its missiles' range at 2,000km to avoid being seen as a threat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Iran has the capacity to reach deep into Europe. However, Reed maintained that there is no assessment to substantiate these claims.
UK Involvement in the Conflict
The UK government has allowed British airbases to be used for strikes on sites targeting UK interests and allies in the region. The UK has given the US permission to use Diego Garcia to conduct bombing raids. The Liberal Democrats and Green Party have expressed concerns that this move risks broadening the UK's involvement in the conflict.
Reed denied that the UK is seeking to escalate the war, stating that it is necessary to adapt to the new targets that the Iranians are focusing on. The UK government has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with some arguing that it has damaged the country's credibility in the international sphere.
