US Defence Secretary Warns Iran's Missiles Could Target London
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has suggested that Iran possesses the military capability to strike London, highlighting the global threat posed by Tehran. His remarks came during a White House cabinet meeting, following a recent missile attack on a joint UK-US military base.
Missile Attack Fuels Security Concerns
Last Friday, two missiles were fired at the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean approximately 4,000 kilometres from Iran. While the UK Government stated that both missiles fell short of their target, the incident has intensified concerns over the potential threat to Britain itself. The Israeli military has previously asserted that Iranian missiles can reach distances of around 4,000 kilometres, endangering numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Hegseth accused Iran of deception regarding its military capabilities, stating, "Two days ago they shot two failed missiles on a target 4,000km away. For years, they told the world that their missiles could only range two thousand kilometres. Surprise. Yet again, Iran lie." He emphasised the broader implications, noting, "London is 4,000km from Iran. Washington DC is 3,300km from Venezuela, another country President Trump did something about, partnered for a long time with Iran. So you're telling us that Iran is not a threat to the world or to the US, President Trump knows better."
UK Response and Reassurances
In contrast, British Defence Secretary John Healey declined to confirm whether Iran could hit the UK but insisted that military chiefs do not believe Tehran has any plans to do so. When pressed repeatedly on Sky News about the possibility of Iranian missiles reaching London, Healey responded, "We have no assessment of Iranian plans to strike London." He added, "What I'm saying, and trying to reassure people, is that we've got no assessment that Iran has any plans to attack. But we have the resources, we have the alliance in place, to be able to defend Britain, and we do that with allies, and we do that with Nato."
Healey further linked Iran's actions to broader geopolitical tensions, noting, "As far as Iran goes, they're demonstrating a capacity to hit across the Middle East, we see the same tactics and technologies that we see employed by Russia in Ukraine, and this is the hidden hand of Putin in both conflicts."
Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
Meanwhile, the conflict in the Middle East shows no signs of abating. The US continues to bolster its combat forces in the region, while Iran maintains its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and gas shipments. Diplomatic efforts have been complicated, with US envoy Steve Witkoff confirming that a 15-point "action list" was presented to Iran through Pakistan as a basis for a potential peace deal. However, President Trump clarified that he is not actively pushing for an agreement, stating, "They're begging to make a deal, not me. They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but they're afraid to say it because they figure they'll be killed by their own people."
In response, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied any engagement in talks to end the war, asserting in an interview on state TV that his government has not participated in negotiations and does not plan to do so. This stalemate underscores the persistent volatility in the region and the ongoing challenges to global security.
