Iran May Target European Sites If U.S. Conflict Escalates, Report Says

Amid rising tensions with the United States, Iran is reportedly considering attacks on U.S.-linked targets in Europe should the conflict escalate, according to a report by the British newspaper Financial Times. Sources cited by the paper suggest that Iran's military is contemplating strikes against sites in southeastern European countries, such as Bulgaria, which recently allowed U.S. aerial tankers to use its Jamboł-Bezmer air base.

Cyprus has also been mentioned as a potential target for retaliatory actions, with reports of an earlier drone strike on the British air base Akrotiri on the island causing minimal damage. Furthermore, Iranian forces are allegedly exploring the possibility of attacking undersea fiber optic cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the event of further escalation. These threats are seen as a reflection of confrontational attitudes within Tehran, where many regime-connected individuals believe war is increasingly likely.

The article also touches upon the unresolved issue of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and gas transport, where negotiations have stalled. While U.S. President Donald Trump has stated no talks with Iran are ongoing or planned, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has recently promoted hardliners to key security and military positions. This strategic shift could see Iran move beyond attacking U.S. military and energy infrastructure in the Middle East to targeting more distant locations if a full-scale conflict were to occur.