Iran Fires Missiles at US-UK Military Base in Diego Garcia
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are intensifying with the conflict’s expansion. Most recently, the Iranian government has fired two medium-range ballistic missiles at the joint United States (US) and UK military base on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean.
The military action was carried out as retaliation after UK authorities granted permission for the US military to launch attacks on Iranian missile sites from their airbase.
Citing The Guardian, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly responded to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision regarding the granting of operational permission for the base. He assessed that Starmer’s policy involving UK military facilities in this aggression directly endangers the lives of his own citizens.
“Ignoring his own people, Mr Starmer is placing the lives of British citizens in danger by allowing a British base to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence,” said Araghchi, as cited by The Guardian on Saturday (21/3/2026).
Iran’s news agency, Mehr, reported that the missile attack on the Chagos Archipelago territory did not hit the target. According to statements from several officials, one missile was shot down by a US warship, while the other missile experienced a malfunction during flight.
Unfortunately, UK officials have not provided details on the failed attack attempt. It is unclear how close the missiles came to the base, which is 4,000 km (2,500 miles) from Iran in the Indian Ocean.
“Iran’s reckless attack, which spreads across the region and holds the Strait of Hormuz hostage, poses a threat to UK interests and UK allies,” stated a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence.
In addition, US President Donald Trump highlighted the political dynamics in the UK and the country’s slow response. He also issued sharp pressure on NATO allies, calling them cowards for refusing to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“(The UK) should have acted much faster,” Trump said.
Facing the escalation of geopolitics and its domestic impacts, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to hold an emergency Cobra meeting next week. The meeting will focus on plans to assist British society in dealing with potential surges in living costs due to the ongoing war.