Iran’s reported attempt to target the US-UK military base in Diego Garcia has drawn global attention to the island’s strategic importance in the Indian Ocean. Why Diego Garcia is a critical military baseDiego Garcia is a small island located in the central Indian Ocean, about 4,000 kilometres from Iran. Because of its location, Diego Garcia has long been considered a safe and secure platform for projecting American military power far beyond US territory. Keeping its true missile range unclear could also give Iran strategic leverage by forcing its rivals to plan for worst-case scenarios. By targeting Diego Garcia, Iran may be signalling that even distant US bases are not beyond its reach.

Source: News 24 March 21, 2026 09:48 UTC