WarMonitor on Nostr: According to The Wall Street Journal, citing multiple U.S. officials, Iran reportedly ...

According to The Wall Street Journal, citing multiple U.S. officials, Iran reportedly launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) toward the joint U.S.–UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. One missile is said to have failed during flight, while the other was intercepted by a U.S. Navy destroyer using an SM-3 interceptor, though a confirmed kill was not established. Neither missile struck the base.

The incident is considered significant because Iran’s long-range strike capabilities have not previously been publicly assessed as sufficient to reach Diego Garcia, which lies roughly 4,000 kilometers from Iranian territory.

Analysts believe the missile used may have been the Khorramshahr-4, an IRBM previously estimated to have a potential range exceeding 4,000 kilometers, though past tested ranges were closer to 2,000–3,000 kilometers. If confirmed, this would suggest the system could extend Iran’s strike reach across much of Europe, potentially including countries as far as France and the United Kingdom.