Iran may have used a space launch vehicle to target ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a British base in the Indian Ocean nearly 4,000 miles away. While Tehran has previously limited its declared missile range to about 1,240 miles, officials from the United States have warned that Iran’s satellite launch systems could significantly extend that reach.

Experts say Iran’s Simorgh space launch vehicle could provide greater range, though potentially at the expense of accuracy upon impact. Analysts note that the technology behind space launches and ballistic missiles is closely related, as both rely on rockets that travel high into the atmosphere before descending at high speed.

A retired Royal Navy commodore suggested the launches were likely intended as a show of capability and defiance. The move may have been designed to demonstrate strength following claims by former President Donald Trump that Iran’s military capacity had been severely damaged.