No assessment Iran capable of striking London, Steve Reed says

---

A UK cabinet minister has stated that there is no evidence to support Israel’s assertion that Iran possesses long-range missiles capable of striking London. Housing Secretary Steve Reed told the BBC that there is “no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK – or even could if they wanted to,” addressing claims made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regarding Tehran’s missile capabilities reaching up to 4,000km (2,485 miles).

This statement follows reports that Iran targeted the joint US-UK military base located on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, approximately 3,800km from Iran. Reed declined to provide details about how close the missiles came to British territory, citing the need to withhold “operational details.” The attack involved Iran firing two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia; one missile failed and landed short, while the other was intercepted.

The IDF commented that it had previously revealed Iran’s intentions last year to develop missiles capable of reaching multiple continents, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. Their social media statements emphasized the threat posed by Iran, claiming, “Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin,” they pose a global danger. However, Reed rejected these assertions, underlining that no specific assessments back the idea that Iran could or intends to target the UK.

Reed also assured that the UK is fully equipped to protect itself from threats, both domestically and abroad, including safeguarding British assets and nationals in the region. He stated, “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.” Moreover, he noted that the longest-range missile in Iran’s current arsenal has a maximum range of 2,000km, significantly less than the distance to both Diego Garcia and London

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

---