'Message to Europe: it can receive missiles'; Iran warns of wider war if Trump attacks
Iranian officials have reportedly identified potential military targets in Europe and undersea infrastructure as part of a strategy to deter US escalation. The threats follow heightened tensions and a hardening of Tehran's military stance under Supreme Leader Khamenei.
Why it matters
The potential for Iranian strikes on European soil or critical infrastructure represents a significant escalation in global geopolitical risk and regional conflict.
Iran has considered targeting US military assets in Europe if US President Donald Trump escalates the ongoing war, according to regime insiders cited by the Financial Times.Two people close to the Iranian regime said Iranian forces had examined targets in countries such as Bulgaria, which recently approved the use of its Bezmer air base for US refuelling aircraft. Cyprus was also being considered as a potential target, one insider added. A British air base there was also hit by a drone in March.Iranian forces have separately examined the possibility of attacking undersea fibre-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz if the conflict escalates further, according to the insiders.The threats reflect a growing conviction inside Iran's ruling circles that a return to full-scale war is inevitable.
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