A chilling scenario was revealed recently: Iran possessed the capability to strike major U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., using intermediate-range ballistic missiles launched from a surprising location – Venezuela. This wasn't a distant possibility, but a very real threat neutralized by recent intervention, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Burgum directly challenged the notion that Iran and Venezuela pose no immediate danger to the U.S. or global stability. He pointed to a specific incident – Iran’s attempt to strike the U.S. military base at Diego Garcia, over 2,000 miles away in the Indian Ocean – as concrete evidence of their reach and intent.
Venezuela, Burgum explained, had become a breeding ground for Iranian-funded terror groups, including Hamas. The placement of even a single Iranian ballistic missile within its borders would have put not only Houston, but the nation’s capital, squarely within striking distance. The implications were staggering.
The secretary accused Iran of deliberately misleading the international community regarding its missile capabilities. During negotiations, Iranian officials claimed a limited range of 1,200 miles. However, the launch of two missiles at Diego Garcia – a distance of 2,400 miles – exposed this deception and revealed a potential range extending to cities like London.
The targeting of Diego Garcia, a crucial U.S.-U.K. military installation, underscored the extent of Iran’s ambition. This base, situated approximately 2,500 miles from Iran, became a focal point in demonstrating Tehran’s extended reach and advanced weaponry.
Beyond Washington, D.C. and Houston, other major American cities were also vulnerable. Miami, New York City, and even Chicago potentially fell within the range of these intermediate-range missiles, painting a disturbing picture of the threat landscape.
A covert military operation launched in Venezuela earlier this year, resulting in the arrest of former leader Nicolás Maduro, proved pivotal in dismantling this threat. Burgum asserted that this action effectively eliminated Venezuela as a viable launchpad for Iranian missiles.
The shift in Venezuela’s political landscape has also opened doors for potential economic cooperation. Burgum described a recent trip with oil executives, where interim President Delcy Rodríguez expressed a strong desire for U.S. investment in developing Venezuela’s vast oil and gas reserves.
This newfound cooperation has already yielded tangible results. During the trip, $100 million worth of gold was physically recovered and brought back to the U.S. for refining, signaling a promising level of collaboration and a potential new energy partnership.
Burgum believes that the actions taken to neutralize this threat are directly contributing to a reduction in the risk premium within the oil and energy market. By addressing a previously underestimated danger, the U.S. is fostering a more stable and predictable global environment.
