Iran Denies Claims of Missile Attack on US-UK Base in Diego Garcia

Iran has categorically denied any involvement in a missile attack targeting the joint military base of the United States and the United Kingdom located on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the accusations on Monday, labelling them as an example of an “Israeli false flag” operation.

The allegations arise amidst ongoing military tensions in the region, and Baghaei's comments followed statements from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Rutte mentioned that the alliance could not corroborate claims made by Israel regarding the missiles being Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Baghaei noted that Rutte's hesitance to support Israel's narrative highlights a growing global fatigue with what he termed tired and discredited “false flag” stories. He shared his thoughts on social media platform X, expressing skepticism about the authenticity of Israel's claims.

In a separate interview with CBS News, Rutte echoed support for US President Donald Trump's military actions against Iran. He framed the military measures as a necessity for global security and urged public backing for those efforts.

Reports from US media sources, including The Wall Street Journal, indicated that missile launches occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning; however, these missiles did not reach the Diego Garcia base. Should it be confirmed that Iran initiated the missile launches, it would signify that the nation possesses long-range ballistic missiles with a reach of over 4,000 kilometres (approximately 2,500 miles), capable of striking key locations, including London.

Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi articulated that Iran consciously limited its missile range to below 2,000 kilometres (1,242 miles) to avoid being perceived as a threat. In response to the accusations, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned Iran's supposed threats as reckless, but reassured that the UK would not engage in a broader conflict in the Middle East.

British Housing Secretary Steve Reed added that there were no indications suggesting that Iran had the capability or intention of reaching the UK with its missiles. The Diego Garcia base houses around 2,500 personnel, primarily American, and has played a vital role in US military operations throughout history, including conflicts in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

In contrast, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir asserted that Iran utilised a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometres during the alleged targeting of the US-UK base. Israel, which maintains a close alliance with the United States, has consistently characterised Iran's missile and nuclear ambitions as a significant threat. Despite ongoing pressure from Israel for military intervention, successive US administrations have refrained from direct military actions, opting instead for extensive sanctions aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Recently, while discussions were taking place between Washington and Tehran, Israel conducted an airstrike that resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This escalation occurred just weeks after Oman had reported that a diplomatic agreement was close at hand, raising further concerns about stability in the region.