Iran significantly escalated its conflict with the United States on Friday by launching two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, a key U.S.-U.K. military installation in the Indian Ocean.

The strike, targeting a location roughly 2,500 miles from Iran, suggests Tehran’s missile capabilities extend far beyond previously stated limits.

Prior to the start of hostilities on Feb. 28, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had said the country deliberately limited its missile range to under 2,000 kilometers, citing a lack of hostility toward the United States and Europe.

However, Israeli officials say the latest launch contradicts those claims. Eyal Zamir, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, said Iran fired a two-stage missile with a range of about 4,000 kilometers, capable of reaching not only Diego Garcia but also major European capitals.

“Berlin, Paris and Rome are all within direct threat range,” Zamir said, warning of the broader implications of Iran’s missile program.

An Israeli military spokesperson, Nadav Shoshani, accused Iran of misleading the international community about its capabilities, pointing to the discrepancy between earlier statements and the recent launch.

Iranian officials have not publicly responded to the latest claims, and independent verification of the missile range has not been confirmed.

The development marks a significant escalation in the conflict, raising concerns about the expanding geographic scope of the war and the potential threat to U.S. assets and European cities.