{"id":2582296,"date":"2026-03-20T23:38:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T03:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-launches-two-missiles-at-diego-garcia-exposing-greater-range\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T23:42:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T03:42:22","slug":"iran-launches-two-missiles-at-diego-garcia-exposing-greater-range","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-launches-two-missiles-at-diego-garcia-exposing-greater-range\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran launches two missiles at Diego Garcia, exposing greater range"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firan-launches-two-missiles-at-diego-garcia-exposing-greater-range%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582296&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Iran\u2019s missile launches at the British base on Diego Garcia reveal a longer potential reach than Tehran had publicly acknowledged, raising broad regional and European security concerns. Two intermediate\u2011range missiles were fired at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, more than 2,000 miles away; both missed-one failed and landed in the sea, the other was reportedly intercepted by a U.S. Navy SM\u20113 interceptor, though it\u2019s unclear whether contact was made.<\/p>\n<p>The incident contradicts Iran\u2019s earlier claim that its missiles are limited to about 2,000 kilometers (roughly 1,200 miles), a claim many experts had dismissed considering the longer-range capability now demonstrated. If Iran truly possesses or can threaten a wider reach, much of Europe could fall within range, perhaps altering NATO and Western security calculations.<\/p>\n<p>the launches came after the U.K. said it would allow U.S. forces to use British bases for strikes against Iran. Tehran quickly warned it could strike U.K. bases in response, arguing that bases like Diego Garcia-long viewed as out of range-might no longer be immune from Iranian missiles.<\/p>\n<p>Many European and allied governments have begun discussing greater involvement to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. The U.K.,France,Germany,Japan,Italy,and the Netherlands issued a joint statement expressing readiness to contribute to safe passage through the Hormuz,followed by additional countries joining later.<\/p>\n<p>The development also has energy-security implications for Europe, which has relied on LNG from Qatar. Iran\u2019s actions have disrupted a notable portion of Qatar\u2019s LNG output, intensifying concerns about LNG supplies to Europe.<\/p>\n<p>analysts describe the missile launches as highly significant, likely forcing policymakers to reassess Tehran\u2019s capabilities and the broader strategic landscape regarding Iran and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-faces-first-main-foreign-policy-test-within-georgia\/\" title=\"Biden Faces First Main Foreign Policy Test within Georgia\">regional security<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Iran launches two missiles at Diego Garcia, exposing greater range than previously thought<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2537581\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> launched two missiles at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-kingdom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"547\">United Kingdom<\/a>&lsquo;s base in Diego Garcia, missing but exposing greater missile capabilities than previously known.<\/p>\n<p>After the U.K. announced it would allow the U.S. to use its bases for defensive strikes against Iran, Tehran launched two <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >intermediate-range ballistic missiles<\/a> at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, over 2,000 miles away, U.S. officials <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/livecoverage\/iran-us-israel-war-updates-2026\/card\/iran-targeted-diego-garcia-base-with-ballistic-missiles-rb7MdZW1CfwRTauDYHOt?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfeDmLQbs9jbR6XKvRlHEurUNUQL70fXDc_vPFGnh6xKb7TIe92FVOjk53EiKo%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69bdfbf4&amp;gaa_sig=NqfdN3bfpiWmfqoJYvg5SpxabN5Cqibo5uUZdbs9r1sphRmxwHVuSDT-uM1S2OrQPUjZqWzmIg-6M6MrJWzsDw%3D%3D\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/livecoverage\/iran-us-israel-war-updates-2026\/card\/iran-targeted-diego-garcia-base-with-ballistic-missiles-rb7MdZW1CfwRTauDYHOt?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfeDmLQbs9jbR6XKvRlHEurUNUQL70fXDc_vPFGnh6xKb7TIe92FVOjk53EiKo%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69bdfbf4&amp;gaa_sig=NqfdN3bfpiWmfqoJYvg5SpxabN5Cqibo5uUZdbs9r1sphRmxwHVuSDT-uM1S2OrQPUjZqWzmIg-6M6MrJWzsDw%3D%3D\">told<\/a> the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em>. Both missiles missed, with one failing and landing in the sea and a U.S. Navy warship firing an SM-3 interceptor&nbsp;at the other, though it&rsquo;s not known if the interceptor made contact.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499430\/trump-other-countries-responsible-hormuz-security\/\">Trump says other countries will have to be responsible for Strait of Hormuz security<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499179\/iran-threatens-uk-bases-us-use-strike\/\">Iran threatens UK bases after London allows US use for strikes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499056\/democrat-waves-off-hamas-tied-unrwa-workers-while-pressing-mike-waltz-gaza\/\">Democrat waves off 19 Hamas-tied UNRWA workers while pressing Mike Waltz on Gaza<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The missile launches, though unsuccessful, are hugely significant, likely changing many countries&rsquo; calculus regarding Tehran.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499179\/iran-threatens-uk-bases-us-use-strike\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4499179\">IRAN THREATENS UK BASES AFTER LONDON ALLOWS US USE FOR STRIKES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For one, the launches exposed Tehran in a lie &mdash; just last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Iran had &ldquo;deliberately limited&rdquo; its missile range to just &ldquo;2,000 kilometers,&rdquo; or roughly 1,200 miles. Many experts <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/middle-east\/iran-is-far-from-building-icbms-experts-say-despite-trumps-warning-of-a-looming-threat-b079bf72?st=za6iJe&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/middle-east\/iran-is-far-from-building-icbms-experts-say-despite-trumps-warning-of-a-looming-threat-b079bf72?st=za6iJe&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share\">speaking before the war<\/a> had dismissed President Donald Trump&rsquo;s claims that Tehran was close to developing such a weapon.<\/p>\n<p>The new range puts nearly all of Europe within Iran&rsquo;s missile range, and could change NATO countries&rsquo; calculus on whether to combat Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Iran targeted the Indian Ocean island after the&nbsp;U.K.&nbsp;shifted its position on the use of its bases by the U.S. for strikes against Iran, allowing its usage for the striking of Iranian military assets targeting the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a>. Araghchi quickly warned that Iran could strike U.K. bases in response, but the main bases of interest in Diego Garcia and the U.K. proper were <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499179\/iran-threatens-uk-bases-us-use-strike\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499179\/iran-threatens-uk-bases-us-use-strike\/\">considered far out of range<\/a> of Iran&rsquo;s most advanced missiles.<\/p>\n<p>The missile launches are likely to exert considerable pressure on Europe to begin devoting forces to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring Tehran to heel.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s effort to draw more countries into contributing to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-other-countries-will-have-to-defend-strait-of-hormuz\/\" title=\"Trump says other ... will have to defend ... of ...\">begun gaining traction<\/a> in recent days. On Thursday, the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-kingdom\/\">United Kingdom<\/a>, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands voiced their joint readiness to contribute to efforts to reopen the&nbsp;Strait of Hormuz. The following day,&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/brett_mcgurk\/status\/2035091115607470164?s=20\">another 14 countries<\/a>&nbsp;signed on to the joint statement.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4497428\/uk-france-japan-germany-secure-strait-of-hormuz\/\">UK, FRANCE, JAPAN, GERMANY, AND OTHERS VOICE READINESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SECURE STRAIT OF HORMUZ<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,&rdquo; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>Europe has been particularly affected by Iran&rsquo;s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to its increasing reliance on liquefied natural gas from&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/qatar\/\">Qatar<\/a>. It leaned heavily into this supply after Russia&rsquo;s invasion of Ukraine, hoping to reduce its reliance on Russian energy imports. Iranian missile and drone attacks have wiped out nearly one-fifth of Qatar&rsquo;s LNG production and left the rest unable to be exported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran fires 2 missiles at Diego Garcia, expands range<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2582297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26020296570188-1-1.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[38717,52351,32404,76269,76270],"class_list":["post-2582296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-defense-news","tag-diego-garcia","tag-geopolitics","tag-iran-missiles-2","tag-missile-range"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26020296570188-1-1.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582296"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582300,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582296\/revisions\/2582300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}