Iran’s foreign ministry denied firing a missile at a joint US-British military base on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean, calling the report “another lie by the Israelis”.
Israeli army chief of staff Eyal Zamer said Iran had used a “two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometres” to strike the base.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte later said the alliance “cannot confirm” Israeli claims that the missiles fired at Diego Garcia were Iranian intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai wrote on social media X on 24 March, in response to Mark Rutte, that Israel’s claims were “false-flag fiction”.
On 21 Mar, reports emerged that Iran had launched two medium-range ballistic missiles at the Diego Garcia base, although the missiles did not hit their target.
The island of Diego Garcia is located about 3,800 kilometres from Iran and is home to a joint UK-United States airbase capable of receiving US long-range bombers.
On 20 March, Britain gave US forces the green light to use its bases to strike Iranian missile sites that attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for Persian Gulf oil shipments to world markets. Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz amid US-Israeli strikes, driving up oil prices.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially rejected a US request to use British bases to strike Iran, saying he needed to make sure any military action was legal. After Iran attacked British allies across the Middle East, Starmer said the US could use an airbase in England and Diego Garcia.
U.S. troops based on sovereign British territory need Britain’s consent for certain missions as part of bilateral agreements.
U.S. and British officials have not yet commented on the WSJ report.