Britain sees no evidence that Iran is targeting Europe with missiles: Minister

Housing Secretary Steve Reed has insisted the UK is safe, despite warnings Iran has developed long-range firepower capable of reaching Britain. 

Israel has warned Iran’s missiles are a threat to European cities – including London, Paris and Berlin – after an attack on the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands. 

"I'm not aware of any assessment at ​all that they are even trying to target ‌Europe, let alone that they could if they tried," he said. 

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Saturday hit out at “reckless Iranian threats” after two ballistic missiles were fired towards the military base. Both were unsuccessful, with one shot down by a US warship and the other failing in flight. 

But Reed told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: "We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen, but the PM has been crystal clear about this war. 

"We didn't join the war, we're not going to be dragged into this war, but we will take necessary defensive action to protect British interests, British people, or our allies across the region.” 

Reed said the fact that one of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia was intercepted, and the other failed, shows "that our defensive capabilities are correct". 

On Saturday the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it was now capable of reaching cities like London, Paris or Berlin. 

It claimed the missiles could go a distance of around 4,000km, meaning they posed a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In a post on X, it said: “We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin.” 

Diego Garcia is around 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran. The distance between Iran and the UK is around 4,435km (2,750 miles). 

In a separate interview with Sky News, ⁠Reed said that US President Trump spoke for himself when he threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants ​if ‌Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of ‌Hormuz within 48 hours. 

Asked to define Britain's position on Trump's deadline, Reed said: "The US president is ‌perfectly capable ‌of speaking for himself and ⁠defending what it is that ‌he's saying." 

"We're not going to be dragged into the war, but we ⁠will protect our own interests in ​the region. We will work with our allies to de-escalate the situation."

Agencies