Iran is considering expanding any future conflict beyond the Middle East if the United States escalates militarily, according to a report by the Financial Times.
Two sources close to the Iranian establishment told the British newspaper that scenarios involving strikes against US military targets in southern and southeastern Europe have been examined.
Among the countries reportedly considered is Bulgaria, while one source also identified Cyprus as a potential target for retaliation.
Akrotiri in focus
The reference to Cyprus is linked to the British military presence on the island, particularly the RAF Akrotiri base.
The base was already targeted in early March, when a Shahed-type drone struck facilities there, causing limited damage but no injuries.
Cypriot and British sources at the time assessed that the unmanned aircraft had most likely been launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon.
The Financial Times reported that Iran has also considered striking subsea fibre-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz if tensions with Washington enter a new phase.
"No limits" in case of a new attack
The atmosphere in Tehran is described as particularly hardline, with figures close to the regime viewing a new broader conflict as a possibility.
One of the newspaper's sources said that, if the United States carries out another large-scale attack, Iran's response could extend beyond the Middle East.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has already warned that military bases used for attacks against Iran could be considered legitimate targets.
Tensions have also risen over Bulgaria, which in July approved the temporary deployment of up to eight KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft and up to 250 military personnel at Bezmer Air Base.
Tehran reacted strongly to the decision.
Tehran's warning regarding Cyprus
The issue of military bases in Cyprus has also been raised officially by Iranian diplomacy.
In late July, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed concerns to the Cypriot side regarding the use of foreign military installations on the island in operations linked to Iran.
The British government, however, clarified in March that RAF Akrotiri would not be included in the UK-US agreement covering the use of British bases for collective defence operations in the region.
A real but limited threat to Europe
Analysts interviewed by the Financial Times said Iran possesses the capability to threaten military installations in southern and southeastern Europe using medium-range missiles.
They noted, however, that as range increases, both accuracy and the ability to inflict significant damage decline.
For that reason, they described the threat as real but limited.
The message emerging from the report is nevertheless clear: in the event of another major US attack, Tehran is examining response scenarios that extend beyond the Middle East, placing military facilities much closer to Europe in its sights, including those in Cyprus.
Source: Financial Times
