March 24, 2026 | 01:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that there had been no assessment showing that the UK has been targeted by Iran.
“We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there's no assessment that we're being targeted in that way,” Starmer told reporters as quoted by Al Arabiya.
He was asked whether Britain could be targeted by Iran following reports over the weekend that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Starmer also said that any effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz requires careful consideration and viable plans, and that the top priority is to protect UK's interests and ease tensions.
Attack on Diego Garcia Base
UK Minister Steve Reed on Sunday said that one of the missiles launched by Iran targeting the joint UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean "fell short" while the other missile was "intercepted."
“Our assessment is that the Iranians certainly targeted Diego Garcia,” a military base about 4,000 kilometers from Iran, Reed told BBC as quoted by Al Arabiya.
“As we understand it, one missile fell short, failed, the other was intercepted and prevented,” the housing minister, representing the government at Sunday morning's event, said.
“But I don’t think it’s a surprise this has happened, Iran has been recklessly firing missiles around the region,” he said.
Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago, is one of the two bases allowed by the UK for the US to use for what the British government insists is "defensive operations" in the war against Iran.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Friday that Iran had aimed two ballistic missiles at the base, which is a crucial hub for US operations in Asia, including US bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Although both missed their targets, the launches showed that Tehran has missiles with a longer range than previously estimated.
American forces have placed bomber aircraft and other equipment on Diego Garcia.
On Friday, the UK government said it would allow Washington to use its bases at Diego Garcia and Fairford in southwest England to target "missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz."
Official UK sources confirmed that the "unsuccessful targeting of Diego Garcia" by Iran happened before Friday's announcement.
Reed emphasized that "the UK will not be dragged into this conflict," adding that "there's no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK or even could, if they wanted to."
He also highlighted the contrasting position taken by the UK and the US on the war, with UK leader Keir Starmer drawing the anger of US President Donald Trump in recent weeks.
“It is not the first time in history that the United Kingdom and a British prime minister has taken a different view from the US president. It happened in Vietnam,” Reed said.
Read: UK to Grant US Permission to Use British Bases for Defensive Strikes Against Iran
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
UK Lawmaker's Partner Arrested over China Spying Allegations
19 hari lalu
In the statement, police confirmed that the country in question was China. The statement didn't name the men, in keeping with UK practice.
UK Stops Issuing Student Visas for 4 Countries
19 hari lalu
The UK Home Office has announced an "emergency brake" on study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.
UK to Grant US Permission to Use British Bases for Defensive Strikes Against Iran
22 hari lalu
British PM Keir Starmer said that the UK would allow the U.S. to use its military bases for defensive purposes following Iranian missile escalation.
10 Best Places to Visit in the UK, From Crowd Favorites to Hidden Gems
25 hari lalu
The best places to visit in the UK are filled with captivating Renaissance belongings, diverse landscapes, and a treasure trove of historic landmarks.
UK Chip Giant Arm to Train 15,000 Indonesian Engineers
27 hari lalu
Indonesia's Danantara partners with UK-based Arm Limited to train 15,000 engineers in semiconductor chip design.
UK Ex-Ambassador Mandelson Released on Bail in Epstein Probe
28 hari lalu
London police arrested former UK ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After Meeting Trump, Prabowo Heads to UK for Strategic Talks
28 hari lalu
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited London, England, earlier this week after meeting with Trump in Washington D.C.
British Police Releases Ex-Prince Andrew After Arrest Over Epstein Case
30 hari lalu
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of leaking confidential documents to Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.
UK Moves to Fully Digital e-Visa System by February 2026
31 hari lalu
Starting February 25, 2026, the UK will replace physical visas and immigration documents with a digital e-visa system.
UK Refuses US Request to Use Its Bases for Iran Attack Plans
31 hari lalu
The UK has refused to provide its military base to the U.S. for use in an attack on Iran.
