New Delhi, March 21 -- Iran recently fired two ballistic missiles at the Diego Garcia military base - which has been jointly used by the UK and US militaries since the 1970s - in the Indian Ocean, more than 4,000 km from its territory, marking a significant attempt by Tehran to target US interests beyond the Middle East.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, both missiles failed to hit their targets, with one failing in flight. The other, meanwhile, was targeted by an SM-3 interceptor, though it is unclear whether the missile was successfully intercepted. The report did not specify when Iran fired the missiles.

Iranian ballistic missiles typically have ranges up to 3,000 km, and the targeting of Diego Garcia suggests that Te...