Iran has renewed its threats against Britain, vowing retaliation for the use of Royal Air Force Fairford as a staging ground for U.S. bombing raids. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that any base used to attack Iranian territory is a legitimate target, a statement echoed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who warned that any nation assisting in an attack would be held accountable.
The IRGC specifically condemned the "British monarchy regime" for its support of the U.S. operation, which involved a B-1 bomber. According to reports, the B-1 bomber, capable of carrying numerous bombs, took off from the Gloucestershire base for strikes against IRGC assets. This marks the first such mission launched from the UK under the current Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who continued a policy allowing U.S. military access to British bases for "defensive strikes."
Analysts have questioned Iran's capability to threaten Western Europe, but recent events suggest a potential expansion of its missile reach. In March, Israel's Defense Forces stated that Iran intended to develop missiles with a range of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles), capable of striking targets across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Iran has denied these claims. "The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin," an IDF statement read.
Further fueling these concerns, Iran launched two ballistic missiles on March 19 targeting the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, over 2,300 miles from Iran. While one missile was intercepted, the second failed after traveling nearly 2,000 miles. Foreign affairs analyst Nawaf Al-Thani suggested this incident indicates Iran's missile capabilities may extend to the intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) class, a significant strategic leap. "Paris comes into range. London moves much closer to the edge of vulnerability depending on launch point and payload," Al-Thani noted, suggesting the threat radius has dramatically expanded beyond the Persian Gulf region.
Experts suggest that rockets developed for Iran's space program could potentially be repurposed for military use, posing a threat to European capitals. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, stated that Tehran's Simorgh space launch vehicle could offer greater range, possibly at the cost of accuracy. Retired Royal Navy commodore Steve Prest added that ballistic missiles and space rockets share fundamental launch principles, implying that a space program inherently indicates a ballistic missile program.
The British government has responded by asserting its readiness to defend against any attacks, employing a layered approach to air and missile defense in coordination with NATO allies. "The UK’s approach to the conflict remains the same – we are committed to defending our people, our interests and our allies, acting in accordance with international law and not getting drawn into the wider conflict," a government spokesperson stated.
Amidst these tensions, the IRGC also issued historical grievances against Britain, accusing it of causing regional instability and supporting actions that led to the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has previously expressed opposition to the use of British airbases by the U.S. during the conflict, a stance that reportedly caused concern at the White House.
