Dubai: Iran has raised the stakes in its confrontation with the United States, with state television warning that modified ballistic missiles could reach American military bases in Europe, including RAF Fairford in Britain, as suspected Iranian-backed drone plots, arson attacks and cyber sabotage fuel fears of a widening conflict.
The warning comes as European security agencies confront an expanding range of threats linked by Western investigators to Tehran and its proxies, raising questions about whether a war that began in the Middle East is increasingly spilling into Europe.
In a broadcast on Saturday, Iranian state television explicitly identified RAF Fairford, a British air base used by American bombers during operations against Iran, as a potential target.
“The range of Iran’s missiles is not limited to what they have seen,” the report declared, claiming that modifications to the Khorramshahr ballistic missile could dramatically extend its reach.
The Khorramshahr-4, unveiled in 2023, has a claimed range of 2,000 kilometres while carrying a 1,500kg warhead. Iranian state television suggested that reducing the warhead’s weight could increase the missile’s range severalfold.
However, there has been no independent confirmation that Iran possesses a modified version capable of reaching Britain.
Iran lifts missile range restrictions
The broadcast followed an October 31 directive from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordering Iran’s armed forces to prepare for retaliation against…
