Iran has issued a chilling warning to the United Kingdom, threatening British lives after a missile attack on the joint UK-US military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The attack, which occurred overnight, saw two missiles fired towards the base, though neither reached its target—one failed mid-flight and the other was intercepted by a US warship.
The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, took to social media to accuse Prime Minister Keir Starmer of putting British lives in danger by allowing US forces to use UK bases for operations against Iran. “Vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran. Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence,” he posted on X.
The UK government had granted permission for the US to use British bases for defensive operations targeting Iranian missile sites that were threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Defence condemned Iran's actions, stating: “Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies. RAF jets and other UK military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region.”
Diego Garcia, located around 3,800km from Iran, is a strategically valuable base with a large airfield, fuel storage, radar installations, and a deep-water port. The UK has agreed to cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius but will lease back the base. The attack on Diego Garcia occurred before ministers authorised US strikes, and a separate drone attack hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Prime Minister Starmer is expected to chair a Cobra meeting next week to discuss support for households affected by rising costs linked to the conflict. US President Donald Trump criticised the UK for not acting faster in granting permission, while also pressuring NATO allies to contribute warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
