Donald Trump threat sees Iran warn of targeting British forces in Diego Garcia amid US tensions

Iranian military leaders have threatened to target British forces in the Chagos Islands if US President Donald Trump attacks the Middle Eastern country

Zasha Whiteway-Wilkinson

06:34, 30 Mar 2025

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President Trump threatened to attack Iran if they didn't agree to his nuclear programme deal(Image: (Image: Getty))

Iranian military leaders have issued a stark warning, threatening to target British forces in the Chagos Islands if US President Donald Trump acts on his threat to strike Iran. The tension escalates as Mr Trump has warned of a military response against Iran unless it agrees to a deal with the US concerning its nuclear programme.

According to The Telegraph, a high-ranking Iranian military official responded by stating Tehran would hit the joint US-UK naval base on Diego Garcia should the US launch an attack.

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An unnamed source was quoted saying: "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."

They added a chilling message: "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."

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Iranian state media have reported that Tehran plans to strike the Diego Garcia facility with ballistic missiles and suicide drones as retaliation for any perceived US aggression. In a foreboding statement, they claimed: "Iran possesses adequate weapons for such an attack from its mainland, such as newer versions of the Khorramshahr missile that have an intermediate range, and the Shahed-136B kamikaze drone with a range of 4,000km [2,485 miles]."

The base is in Tehran's crosshairs because it houses a strategic bomber force that has the capability to strike Iran's subterranean facilities. The B-2 Spirit, known for its long-range, payload capacity, and advanced stealth technology, is the bomber force that poses a significant threat, reports the Express.

USAF B-1 Bombers at the air base on Diego Garcia(Image: (Image: Getty))

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Iranian forces regard the B-2 Spirit with apprehension, considering it an ideal platform for delivering substantial ordnance onto their underground sites.

Iranian state media outlined a potential conflict scenario, stating: "In such a scenario," said Iranian state media, "the bomber would certainly take off from NSF Diego Garcia, making the 3,800km-away base a target for an Iranian retaliatory operation."

Recent satellite images have confirmed the arrival of at least three B-2 Spirit bombers at the strategic outpost this week.

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A spokesperson for the British government responded firmly, saying: "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."

Other potential targets identified include various US military sites throughout Asia and the Middle East, such as a naval base in Bahrain, which is in proximity to a Royal Navy support facility. Notably, Diego Garcia is the most sizable island within the Chagos Archipelago – a British sovereign territory that the UK Government intends to transfer to Mauritius.

The current lifetime officeholder, Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khameneh known as Ali Khamenei(Image: (Image: Getty))

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The dispute surrounding the UK-US base has sparked debate, as it has served as a joint facility since the 1970s and is believed to be staffed by around 4,000 US and British personnel, including military members and civilian contractors.

Since his return to the Oval Office, Trump has reignited his campaign of "maximum pressure" against Iran, with the goal of halting its nuclear ambitions by slashing its oil exports to zero. He's also shown interest in crafting a "verified nuclear peace agreement" with Tehran.

Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Friday, stating: "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."

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He elaborated, "I don't want that to happen. My big preference – and I don't say this through strength or weakness – my big preference is, we work it out with Iran. But if we don't work it out, bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran."

On the opposing side, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, has categorically prohibited direct negotiations with America, asserting: "No problem will be solved by negotiating with America."