Why the UK needs to be wary of Iranian retaliation
This Is Why
Sky News
4.0 • 552 Ratings
🗓️ 23 March 2026
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Last week, Iran tried to target the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia – more than 2,000 miles away in the Indian Ocean.
That attack failed but it led an Israel military spokesperson to suggest London could be vulnerable to an Iranian ballistic missile strike.
With Keir Starmer now allowing the use of British air bases for US operations against attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, is Iran capable of direct retaliation against the UK?
What is the state of Britain’s air defences? And what other means does Tehran have at its disposal to threaten us?
Niall speaks to Sky’s defence analyst, Professor Michael Clarke.
Do you have a question for the podcast? Email us: why@sky.uk
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Sky News, the full story first. |
| 0:11.5 | Iran poses a much greater direct threat to the UK than previously thought, and this is why. |
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| 1:36.6 | T's and Cs apply. |
| 1:51.0 | Iran launches a missile attack on Diego Garcia after Kirstama lets the US use British bases for Hormuz strikes. Iran certainly isn't holding back, not that those ballistic missiles hit their intended |
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