Iran's Missile Capabilities Raise Concerns Over European Security

Iran launched two long-range ballistic missiles last Saturday, targeting Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean, which hosts a joint British-American airbase. According to Ming Pao, although the missiles did not hit their target, the incident highlights Iran's missile range, which exceeds previous estimates and suggests the capability to strike multiple European countries, including the United Kingdom. British media cited experts who noted the high speed of these ballistic missiles, indicating that the UK might have only 20 minutes of warning time in the event of an attack. Furthermore, the UK lacks the ability to intercept such missiles independently and would need to rely on defense support from allies like the United States. Despite these concerns, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated on Monday that the UK regularly assesses its security measures and has not identified any immediate threat from Iran targeting the country.