Iran's Missiles: New Threats to London and Paris?

Tue Mar 24 2026 00:45:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Recent missile launches from Iran raise concerns about the capability of Iranian missiles to reach major European cities like London and Paris. Defence experts analyze the implications of these developments amidst growing geopolitical tensions.

Iran's recent attempts to target a US-UK military base in Diego Garcia have sparked questions about the range and effectiveness of its missile capabilities. While there are doubts about their ability to reach London or Paris, experts suggest that the threat exists, though the level of risk remains low due to possible inaccuracies in longer-range strikes. The military strategies employed by Iran also indicate its resilience despite heavy opposition.

Recent discussions have emerged over the effectiveness and reach of Iranian missile capabilities, particularly in light of their attempts to strike the US-UK military base in Diego Garcia.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that two missiles were launched last Friday; one failed while the other was successfully intercepted, raising alarms about Iran's missile range which may now extend towards parts of Europe, including London.

While the notion of reaching cities like London and Paris raises security concerns, experts maintain that achieving accurate strikes at such distances could prove challenging for Iran. The trajectory of missiles launched recently implied they could travel around 3,000km from their launch site.

Despite claims from Iranian officials to cap missile range at 2,000km, Israeli sources assert that their functionality extends as far as 4,000km, raising further speculation on potential targets across Europe.

Military analysts express caution, indicating that any missiles reaching Europe would likely be conventionally armed and launched at imprecise long ranges. Existing missile defence strategies in places like the UK and NATO regions aim to mitigate these risks, although Britain currently lacks a robust defense against ballistic missile threats.

While there is a possibility that Iranian missiles, if equipped properly, could hit London, experts argue that the complexities involved in long-range targeting could deter immediate risks.