Iran is reportedly contemplating an assault on U.S. military targets in Europe, should the ongoing conflict with the Trump administration escalate.
Iranian forces have been assessing the feasibility of striking US assets in south-eastern European countries such as Bulgaria. The Bezmer air base in Bulgaria, recently greenlit for use by U.S. refuelling aircraft, is among the potential targets, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing insiders close to the Iranian regime.
Insiders also pointed to Cyprus, where a British air base was hit by a drone in March, as another potential target for retaliation if the U.S. resumes its offensive. The sources disclosed that Iranian forces have separately contemplated attacking subsea fibre-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz if tensions escalate.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other military commanders have warned that, in a full-scale conflict, Tehran could expand attacks beyond U.S. military assets and infrastructure in the Middle East to targets farther afield.
The regime is devising a plan to widen the conflict if President Donald Trump acts on previous threats to attack Iranian infrastructure, according to the report. The second insider underscored that Iran would impose “no limits” on its response to US aggression, even extending its defense to Europe.
NATO on Alert as Iran Threat Grows
NATO spokesperson told CNN that it is prepared to "address any threat" and “will always do what is necessary to defend all allies."
Notably, in March, NATO defenses intercepted four suspected Iranian ballistic missiles headed toward Turkey, though Iran denied launching them. Cyprus also faced drone attacks during the month.
UAE Cuts Iran Ties as Tensions Escalate
This development comes in the wake of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) severing all trade and financial transactions with Iran following a reported missile strike. Two ballistic missiles were launched from Iran towards the UAE’s territorial waters, causing no damage or casualties but marking an unwelcome return of the conflict to the Gulf economy’s shores after more than three months.
The previous weeks had seen a series of Iranian drone and missile attacks on the UAE, which had escalated local tensions and impacted the country’s tourism and aviation industry.
Meanwhile, Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. has no ongoing or scheduled talks with Iran. He said the naval blockade remains in place while the Strait of Hormuz is "open and operating."
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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