Pete Hegseth pointed to Iran’s reported missile launches toward the joint British-American base on Diego Garcia as grounds for greater concern among Washington’s allies. Britain said neither missile reached its target. Citing a distance of roughly 4,000 kilometers, Hegseth argued that Tehran’s capabilities could threaten London. However, unsuccessful launches alone do not establish that Iran can reliably strike the British capital. His warning nevertheless puts European security at the heart of an already volatile confrontation.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Iranian sources described a directive from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei barring the removal of enriched uranium from the country. That position clashes with demands attributed to Washington and Israel, while Netanyahu also seeks an end to Tehran’s support for proxy militias and dismantlement of its ballistic missile infrastructure. Pakistani-mediated negotiations continue against a fragile ceasefire, with shipping restrictions and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz adding pressure. The central disagreements remain unresolved.
