Iran weighs targeting U.S. assets in Europe if conflict escalates

Iran is weighing retaliatory strikes against U.S. military assets in Europe should Washington escalate the ongoing conflict, according to people close to the Iranian regime cited in multiple reports on Wednesday. The consideration marks a potential widening of the geopolitical confrontation beyond the Middle East.

Specific assessments have focused on targets in southeastern Europe, particularly in Bulgaria and Cyprus. One insider stated that if the U.S. were to attack Iranian infrastructure, Tehran could move to broaden the conflict's geographical scope. Another warned that Iran would place "no limits" on its response if the U.S. went "too far," stating it would "defend itself at any price, go beyond the region and hit Europe too."

The focus on Bulgaria follows its parliamentary approval in July for U.S. refueling aircraft to use the Bezmer air base. The first KC-135 tanker landed there on July 31. Iran had lobbied against the decision, with its foreign ministry warning Sofia that hosting the aircraft would make Bulgaria complicit in aggression. Cyprus is also under consideration, notably because its British RAF Akrotiri base was struck by a drone in March. While Iran denied...