Iran will target Britain's Chagos base if Trump attacks

Iran has issued a stark warning that it will target British forces in the Chagos Islands if any military action is taken against the nation by Donald Trump. Following threats from Trump regarding potential strikes if Iran did not reach a deal over its nuclear program, a senior Iranian military official told The Telegraph that Tehran would retaliate against the joint US-UK naval base on Diego Garcia in the event of an attack. The official stated, "There will be no distinction in targeting British or American forces if Iran is attacked from any base in the region or within the range of Iranian missiles." He added, "When the time comes, it won’t matter whether you’re an American, British, or Turkish soldier – you will be targeted if your base is used by Americans."

Iranian state media has warned that the Diego Garcia facility could be hit with ballistic missiles and suicide drones as retaliation for any hostile action against Iran by the US. The outlet noted that Tehran possesses sufficient weaponry to carry out such an operation, including advanced versions of the Khorramshahr missile with intermediate range capabilities and the Shahed-136B kamikaze drone, which has a 4,000km range. The base is considered a strategic target because it houses a bomber force, including B-2 Spirit bombers capable of striking Iran’s underground facilities. Satellite images have confirmed the recent arrival of at least three B-2 bombers at the outpost.

A spokesperson for the UK government condemned these threats, stating, "We condemn these threats in the strongest terms. The UK Government continues to work with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation. The base on Diego Garcia is vital to UK and US security and plays a crucial role in maintaining regional and international security." Iranian state media has listed the Diego Garcia base as a potential target alongside other US military sites in Asia and the Middle East, including a naval facility in Bahrain located near a Royal Navy support center.

Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, remains under British sovereignty and is part of a controversial deal in which the British government aims to eventually hand over the islands to Mauritius. The base, a joint UK-US facility since the 1970s, hosts around 4,000 US and British personnel—military servicemen and civilian contractors—with a small contingent of British police, customs officers, and Royal Marines providing local security. Under the proposed arrangement with Mauritius, Diego Garcia would be leased back to the UK at an annual cost of approximately £90 million, allowing military operations to continue.

Since returning to office, Trump has escalated his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, aiming to halt its nuclear ambitions by crippling its oil exports. However, he has also indicated a preference for swiftly negotiating a “verified nuclear peace agreement” with the regime. In a recent warning, Trump stated, “I sent them a letter just recently, and I said: you have to make a decision, one way or the other, and we either have to talk and talk it out or very bad things are going to happen to Iran. I don’t want that to happen.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, has ruled out direct talks with the US, declaring, “No problem will be solved by negotiating with America.” A local political science professor near Tehran commented, “They [the regime] would do anything to survive in the event of an attack – the regime would be like a wounded wild animal, striking at everything in sight. They are convinced they wouldn’t survive and know that neither Russia nor China would come to their help. The memory of Assad’s fate still lives here.” He went on to suggest that, given these dire circumstances, the regime's only viable option is to negotiate with Trump, a leader they know follows through on his promises.

Trump sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader earlier this month, urging negotiation and warning of “terrible” consequences if military intervention occurred. On Thursday, Iran confirmed its response to Trump’s letter—neither completely rejecting nor fully embracing direct talks. Senior adviser Kamal Kharazi, speaking for Khamenei, indicated that while the regime was not ready to engage in direct negotiations under US pressure, it remained open to indirect discussions. Additionally, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that Tehran had sent its reply via Oman, outlining its stance on Trump’s proposals and regional affairs, and reiterated that Iran would not enter into direct talks unless conditions changed.

This latest development underscores the heightened tensions in the region, with both sides preparing for potential escalations while diplomatic channels, albeit indirect, remain open.