Minister insists UK is safe despite stark warning Iran has firepower to hit London

Housing Secretary Steve Reed has insisted the UK is safe, despite warnings Iran has developed long-range firepower capable of reaching Britain.

Israel issued a stark warning that Iran’s missiles are a threat to European cities – including London, Paris and Berlin – after an attack on the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper on Saturday hit out at the “reckless” Iranian action after two ballistic missiles were fired towards the base. Both were unsuccessful, with one shot down by a US warship and the other failing in flight.

Mr Reed told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen, but the PM has been crystal clear about this war.

“We didn’t join the war, we’re not going to be dragged into this war, but we will take necessary defensive action to protect British interests, British people, or our allies across the region.”

He said the fact that one of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia was intercepted, and the other failed, shows “that our defensive capabilities are correct”.

On Saturday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it was now capable of reaching cities such as London, Paris or Berlin.

It claimed the missiles could go a distance of around 4,000km, meaning they posed a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. In a post on X, it said: “We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat. Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin.”

Diego Garcia is around 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran. The distance between Iran and the UK is around 4,435km (2,750 miles).

Mr Reed refused to say how close Iran’s long-range missiles had come to reaching Diego Garcia, insisting that to do so would only help Iran.

He appeared to suggest Israel’s warning was exaggerated, saying the IDF’s statement was “conditional”, adding “there is no assessment to substantiate what’s being said”.

He also would not be drawn on whether the government backs Donald Trump’s fresh 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, saying that was a question for the US President.

Early on Sunday, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that the country had 48 hours to comply or the US would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants.

The Conservatives accused Sir Keir Starmer of putting the UK’s “standing in the world” at risk by “dithering” on Iran.

Sir James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, said Mr Trump had been “deeply unfair” when he accused the UK and European Nato allies of being cowards.

But he added: “However, I don’t think it has been helped by the fact that our prime minister has sat on his hands at a time when the Canadians, a left-of-centre government, were supportive of the action against Iran. Australia, a left-of-centre government, supportive of the action against Iran – so it’s not a left-right split. The fact is Keir Starmer was equivocal, he was dithering, he was undecided and that, I fear, has undermined our standing in the world.”