Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has insisted the UK is safe, despite warnings Iran has developed long-range firepower capable of reaching Britain.
Israel issued a stark warning that 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.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper on Saturday hit out at the “reckless” Iranian action after two ballistic missiles were fired towards the base. Both were unsuccessful, with one shot down by a US warship and the other failing in flight.
Explosions erupt following strikes at Shahran Oil Refinery in Tehran (AFP/Getty)
Mr 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.”
He 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”.
Asked if he accepted reports that the UK could be hit by Iranian missiles, he said: “No. There’s no assessment that I’m aware of that says either that the Iranians would target Europe, or even that they could if they wanted to.”
Hours later Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on his nation’s warning saying Iran has the capacity to reach “deep into Europe”.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Netanyahu said: “They fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia – that’s 4,000 kilometres. I’ve been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on a European country, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.”
But Israel was accused of “trying to get Europe more concerned” over the threat posed by Iran.
Lord McDonald, the former top civil servant at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said: “Frankly, there’s no evidence that they have missiles of this capability apart from an Israeli source. And the Israeli agenda is to get Europe more concerned, more involved, more supportive of what they’re doing.”
He added that even if Iran aimed at Diego Garcia “they didn’t hit their target. And I think that is an important fact.”
He conceded it was “true” the UK could be vulnerable to such a missile strike, but added “I repeat, apart from this Israeli report, I don’t see any evidence that Iran has this capability.”
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 such as 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.”
Ministers gave the US permission to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz from UK bases including Diego Garcia on Friday afternoon (Alamy/PA) (Alamy/PA)
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).
Mr Reed refused to say how close Iran’s long-range missiles had come to reaching Diego Garcia, insisting that to do so would only help Iran.
He also would not be drawn on whether the government backs Donald Trump’s fresh 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, saying that was a question for the US President.
Early on Sunday, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that the country had 48 hours to comply or the US would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants.
The Conservatives accused Sir Keir Starmer of putting the UK’s “standing in the world” at risk by “dithering” on Iran.
Sir James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, said Mr Trump had been “deeply unfair” when he accused the UK and European Nato allies of being cowards.
But he added: “However, I don’t think it has been helped by the fact that our prime minister has sat on his hands at a time when the Canadians, a left-of-centre government, were supportive of the action against Iran. Australia, a left-of-centre government, supportive of the action against Iran – so it’s not a left-right split. The fact is Keir Starmer was equivocal, he was dithering, he was undecided and that, I fear, has undermined our standing in the world.”