Iran: The Latest ‘A forever mission': US colonel on Trump's Strait of Hormuz quagmire
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Mar 23, 2026 
Tom Cotterill, acting defence editor at The Telegraph, explains technical details of Iran’s missile strike on Diego Garcia. Peter Mansoor, retired US Army colonel and military historian, assesses hard power options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. They discuss missile capabilities, risks of island seizures and amphibious raids, special operations to seize enriched uranium, and why any military effort could become a prolonged quagmire.
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Diego Garcia Strike Shows Iran's Longer Reach
- Iran fired two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia; one failed, the other was intercepted, demonstrating extended-range capability.
- Tom Cotterill identifies the likely missile as the Qaramshar/Karamshar 4 with ranges up to ~4,000 km depending on payload.
Range Doesn't Equal Certainty For Attacks On Europe
- Europe and the UK are within theoretical range but face layered US/UK air defenses that reduce practical risk.
- Tom Cotterill explains Europe benefits from Arleigh Burke destroyers, Type 45s, Patriots and Aegis sites along likely flight paths.
Invest In UK Land Based Ballistic Defences
- The UK needs to invest in land-based ballistic missile defenses because existing Type 45 destroyers alone are insufficient.
- Tom Cotterill notes Britain lacks land systems and Sky Sabre cannot counter fast long-range ballistic missiles.