A senior minister has downplayed warnings that Iran possesses ballistic missiles capable of reaching the UK, suggesting that such claims by Israel are exaggerated. Housing Secretary Steve Reed insisted that Britain's defensive systems are adequate and that there is no evidence Tehran could target Europe.
Israel had warned on Saturday that Iranian missiles threaten European cities, including London, after two ballistic missiles were fired towards the UK-US Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. One missile was intercepted and the other failed, which Reed said demonstrated the effectiveness of UK defences.
Reed told Sky News: 'We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe.' He later told Times Radio that there was 'no assessment' that Iran could or would target Europe. His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Iran has the capacity to reach 'deep into Europe'.
Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Lord McDonald accused Israel of exaggerating the threat to garner European support for its war on Iran. He noted that there is no evidence of Iranian missiles with such range apart from Israeli sources, and that the missiles fired at Diego Garcia missed their target.
Tensions have escalated further, with Iran threatening to destroy energy targets across the Middle East after US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Trump on Sunday, agreeing on the need to reopen the strait for global energy stability, and will chair a Cobra meeting on Monday to address domestic energy concerns.
