EXCLUSIVE: A security analyst has just cautioned that Iran possesses the ability to strike the UK, contradicting prior assumptions – here’s what they suggest is necessary to rectify this. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark
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According to a British security expert, Iran now has nuclear-capable missiles that can reach the UK, which he described as an “easy target.”
In the past, Tehran declared that it had independently restricted its missiles’ range to 2,000km. However, military observers were subsequently alarmed when Iran launched a pair of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) toward Diego Garcia, a shared US-UK facility in the Indian Ocean, situated roughly 4,000kms from any Iranian launch site.
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Iran’s aggressive actions last Friday have stoked concerns that it might also target much of Europe, including London. Uncertainty remains regarding the capacity of Iranian missiles to hit targets at such distances.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated that one missile failed, and the other was intercepted last Friday. However, the one that malfunctioned still managed to travel approximately 3,000km from its launch origin.
Anthony Glees, Emeritus Professor at the University of Buckinghamshire, shared with The Express: “We’re told the US Navy intercepted one, and the other crashed into the sea. Perhaps not of great significance.”
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“Nonetheless, we thought that the maximum reach of Iranian missiles was, at most, 2,000kms, so if Diego Garcia was within range, then theoretically so would be the UK and numerous other European capitals.”
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Glees elaborated: “Israeli military intelligence suggests that these two-stage missiles (one stage to propel it into near space, the other to guide it toward its destination) were clearly not designed solely to strike Israel, only 1,000kms away, implying that we in Europe were potentially at risk, should the ayatollahs and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) decide to attack us.
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“Essentially, the UK is currently vulnerable to any enemy. This is attributable to successive UK governments over the last decade and is not Starmer’s responsibility.”
However, the Ministry of Defence emphasised that measures and resources were in place to keep the UK secure in the event of any assault.
An MoD spokesman stated: “We possess the required resources to ensure the United Kingdom’s safety from all forms of attacks, whether originating within our borders or from overseas. The UK maintains a constant state of readiness to defend itself.”
“The UK employs a multi-layered strategy for air and missile defence, utilising assets from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, equipped with an array of advanced capabilities, operating in collaboration with our NATO partners.”
“This Government has prioritised the necessity of air and missile defence for UK national security, correcting years of underinvestment. Consequently, last June, based on recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review, we announced up to £1 billion in new funding to enhance air and missile defence and maintain the UK’s security.”
“This includes a new £118m contract, announced last year, to deliver six cutting-edge Land Ceptor missile systems, which, as part of the Sky Sabre system, can intercept an object the size of a tennis ball travelling at twice the speed of sound.”
“The UK-led DIAMOND initiative will improve NATO’s integrated air and missile defence by facilitating better and more integrated operation of different air defence systems across the Alliance throughout Europe. DIAMOND will reinforce the way European NATO allies coordinate their air defence against missile attacks.”
Glees characterised last year’s Strategic Defence Review as a “solid document” but noted that it “mentions Iran only seven times, specifically in relation to its drones and regional destabilisation efforts involving Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah forces, but not at all concerning any ICBMs.”
He further stated: “In the event of an attack, some analysts contend that Britain is ‘completely exposed’ to a missile barrage. Our sole national anti-missile defence system consists of the Type 45 Destroyers.”
“However, only one is functional and has been deployed to Cyprus. Additionally, we have the Sky Sabre defence system used to safeguard our Army from missiles. It is capable of hitting a tennis ball moving at the speed of sound, which is commendable.
“So, our only means of protection at a national level is the RAF Fylingdales, our Early Warning radar centre, which can detect objects approximately 3,000kms into space, enabling us to spot an incoming missile. However, we lack the national capability to intercept and destroy it.”
“Instead, we would need to depend on NATO’s missile defence system, specifically designed to protect the civilian populations of all European NATO allied states. This system comprises radar and interception weaponry.”
“Furthermore, there is the European Sky Shield ESSI, spearheaded by Germany and involving 23 European nations, including the UK.”
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“We should not underestimate these systems. NATO successfully located and destroyed an Iranian missile targeting Turkey, a NATO ally. This is a positive development.”
He continued: “In my opinion, it’s not possible to assert with certainty that our prior assessment, which stated that Iran could not strike us with ICBMs, was incorrect.”
“What is particularly striking and revealing is the absence of any assessment from our UK intelligence community, either our Military Intelligence personnel or MI6 (tasked with evaluating potential weapons threats in any conflict). Is this due to our people’s uncertainty regarding the accuracy of the Israeli estimate, or is it because they are aware of it, but Starmer has decided to keep us uninformed?”
“This would be crucial, as the possibility of an Iranian ICBM attack could place us in a very precarious situation.”
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“This underscores why Trump’s ‘cease-fire’ offers some hope that a negotiated resolution may be attainable. However, we must remember that even if achieved, it would still leave the ayatollahs and the IRG in power, potentially even more antagonistic toward the West than before Iran was attacked three weeks ago by Israel and the USA.”
“Therefore, we need to rearm promptly and prioritize our defence capabilities without relying on our nuclear deterrent, which, if employed, would annihilate us all.”