How far can Iran’s ballistic missiles reach? A defense expert explains how the missiles work, and what Iran can and can’t hit

News that Iran had fired ballistic missiles at a US military base in the Indian Ocean was startling, but how much of a threat does the development represent?

By: Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 24, 2026

Words: 1,217

Last Updated: 4 months, 1 week ago

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By Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder

Iran fired two ballistic missiles on March 20, 2026, at the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategically important joint U.S.-U.K. military base, according to U.S., U.K. and Israeli officials. One missile broke apart during flight, and the other appears to have been destroyed by U.S. missile defenses.

Iran has denied responsibility for the launches.

Diego Garcia is about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) …

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