{"id":2074,"date":"2026-03-22T03:50:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T03:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rohangunaratna.com\/?p=2074"},"modified":"2026-03-22T03:50:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T03:50:15","slug":"irans-strategic-leap-middle-east-war-expands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rohangunaratna.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/22\/irans-strategic-leap-middle-east-war-expands\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s Strategic Leap: Middle East War Expands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Rohan Gunaratna<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian missile attack on the joint U.S.\/UK military base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on March 21, 2026 is a threat to Europe, Asia and Africa.[1]<\/a> A hub for bombers, submarines, logistics, and long-range operations, Diego Garc\u00eda is a part of the mid-Indian Ocean ridge south of the Maldives and Lakshadweep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Distance from Iran to Diego Garcia Base<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The attack was prompted by the British government permitting the U.S. to use its military bases to strike Iranian missile sites used to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempt to target a US\/UK base demonstrates that Tehran is ruled by a reckless team of leaders.\u00a0 After about 40 of Iran\u2019s leaders including its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larjani were eliminated in Israeli and US military operations, Iranian regime is guided by a cabal that lack an understanding of either war-fighting or peace-making. They lack the sophistication either to de-escalate or to end the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iran’s Defense Ministry presented a handout of a 4th generation Khorramshahr ballistic missile being launched at an undisclosed location in Iran, May 25, 2023. (AFP)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Iran’s claimed range of missile targets<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By authorising IRGC to fire an intermediate ballistic missile toward a military base about 4,000 kilometers south of Iran, the remnant leaders in Tehran sent a clear message that Europe could be next. The attack on the US\/UK base in Diego Garcia was unsuccessful, with one missile falling short and another intercepted.\u00a0 Although neither missile hit the base, the attack demonstrated that Tehran has developed aerospace weapons with range of 4,000 kilometers that could threaten Europe, Africa and Asia. Tehran is no longer restrained by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi who said in February 2026 that Iran had deliberately limited its missile range to 2,000 kilometers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 5, 2026, IRGC claimed it attacked Ben Gurion Airport using a “Khorramshahr 4” missile, the same type of ballistic missile that targeted Diego Garcia. The IRGC claimed that the missile is capable of penetrating advanced air defense systems but Israel interdicted the missile targeting the airport and U.S. interdicted the missile targeting the joint U.S.\/UK military base in Diego Garc\u00eda.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Iran Foreign Minister deceives the world about missile range<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n