Unconfirmed US reports say Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward the US-UK base on Diego Garcia, but neither weapon hit its target.
One missile reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight and the other was intercepted by a US naval vessel, though the exact timing of the launches remains unclear.
The BBC says the accounts are credible, and Britain’s Ministry of Defence accused Iran of escalating attacks across the region that threaten UK interests and allies.
The US military has so far declined to comment publicly on the incident.
Analysts are divided about whether Iran has the missile reach to strike Diego Garcia, roughly 2,350 miles from Iranian territory.
Iran’s known intermediate-range systems are generally thought to fall short, although some experts say newer missiles such as the Khorramshahr could extend Tehran’s reach nearer to that distance.
The attempted strike is reported to have occurred before the UK agreed to let the United States use British bases for strikes on Iranian sites said to be targeting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
That shipping lane is strategically vital, carrying about a fifth of global oil shipments.
Diego Garcia is a remote Indian Ocean atoll used as a long-range air and maritime platform and has supported operations in the Middle East for years.
The UK has previously limited the base’s use in US strikes, but recently broadened permission under a collective self-defence rationale to protect vessels transiting the Hormuz.
The move to allow US access has sparked political controversy at home and abroad.
Iran’s foreign minister warned that Britain’s cooperation risks British lives and defended Tehran’s right to self-defence, while opposition parties in the UK have demanded parliamentary scrutiny of the decision.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the change in policy as a major reversal, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer has scheduled a COBRA meeting to discuss domestic measures to ease the economic impact of higher energy prices.
The International Energy Agency warns that disruptions to oil flows could shake wider energy markets.
The Chagos archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia, remains politically sensitive.
The UK controls the islands but has agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while retaining a lease on the military base — a deal opposed by displaced Chagossians and contested historically by Mauritius.
Separately, Iran has launched other strikes and drone attacks on facilities hosting US forces and on Israel, and recently sent unmanned craft toward RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, one of which caused minor runway damage.
In response to regional threats, the UK has deployed the destroyer HMS Dragon and other defensive assets to the area.
Details around the reported missile launches are still emerging, and officials have not released a full account.
Journalists and analysts are monitoring the situation for confirmation and for any further escalation.
