Iran has warned that American, Israeli and NATO military installations across Europe could become targets of Iranian missile strikes, following new directives from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei removing geographical restrictions on military retaliation.
Iran’s hardline Kayhan newspaper reported on Tuesday that US and Israeli interests, along with NATO bases extending deep into Europe, were now included in Tehran’s expanded list of potential military targets.
The newspaper claimed that Iranian precision missiles could reach these installations, although the extent of Iran’s long-range strike capabilities has not been independently established.
According to Kayhan, Khamenei ordered the military to remove geographical limitations on its response to potential attacks, expanding its operational planning beyond US Central Command (CENTCOM) facilities in the Middle East.
The warnings suggest that any renewed confrontation with Washington or Israel could extend beyond the Middle East and potentially involve European countries hosting American and NATO military installations.
The escalation comes as Americans vote in Tuesday’s congressional midterm elections, with tensions between Washington and Tehran continuing to rise.
The United States carried out limited strikes against Iranian military targets on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, further raising concerns about a return to major hostilities.
Despite the increasingly confrontational rhetoric, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that renewed fighting between Iran and the United States would benefit neither side.
Speaking during a government meeting, Pezeshkian said Tehran was working to resolve the confrontation through dialogue, according to AFP.
He also confirmed that Khamenei had granted his government additional authority to negotiate matters previously considered off-limits, without providing further details.
The developments highlight contrasting signals from Tehran, with Iranian military and political figures threatening to expand the geographical scope of any future conflict while the government continues pursuing a diplomatic settlement.
Qatar has intensified mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, although significant disagreements remain over the conditions for ending the confrontation.
