Iran has assessed the possibility of targeting US military assets in Europe should the United States escalate the ongoing war, according to regime insiders cited by the Financial Times. The reported contingency planning reflects Tehran’s consideration of responses beyond the Middle East.
The assessment comes amid stalled negotiations and continued tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Drivers of This Activity
Two people close to the Iranian regime told the Financial Times that Iranian forces have examined potential strikes on US military facilities in south-eastern Europe. Bulgaria was specifically mentioned after it approved the use of its Bezmer air base for US refuelling aircraft. Cyprus, site of a British air base previously targeted by a drone earlier in the conflict, was also cited as a possible location.
One insider stated that Iran would place “no limits” on its response if the US went “too far,” adding that Tehran could “go beyond the region and hit Europe too.” The sources framed such actions as retaliatory measures that would be considered only in the event of further US military escalation, particularly attacks on Iranian infrastructure. Iranian forces have also reportedly examined the possibility of targeting subsea fibre-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz.
The comments reflect a defiant posture in Tehran, where some officials view a resumption of wider fighting as increasingly likely.
Impact and Broader Context
The reported assessments, if accurate, signal a potential widening of the conflict’s geographic scope and raise the stakes for European countries hosting US or allied military assets. European governments and NATO allies will likely monitor the situation closely for any concrete indicators of intent.
The disclosures add to existing warnings from Iranian officials about treating bases used to support operations against Iran as legitimate targets. At the same time, the accounts remain based on anonymous sources close to the regime and have not been independently confirmed by official Iranian statements in the available reporting.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled, with both sides maintaining hard positions. Further developments in the conflict, any official responses from Tehran or Western governments, and the status of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will shape the immediate outlook.
Source: Financial Times; subsequent coverage by Reuters, Times of Israel and others
Original source: Financial Times report citing Iranian regime insiders