Iran threatens to retaliate beyond Middle East if US attacks

Iranian TV: "Our missiles will reach Europe; we will destroy the American imperialists and their allies!"

Iran warned that in the event of a new American military operation, retaliatory strikes would surprise many. Because they will definitely go beyond the Middle East. The threat was broadcast by the Iranian TV channel IRINN. And among the possible targets are Kyiv, Odessa, Lviv or, for example, the Polish Rzeszow.

In particular, a map of Europe was shown on air, depicting missiles and explosions. The graphics were accompanied by the phrase: "Our missiles will reach Europe, and we will destroy the American imperialists and their allies."

If you dig a little deeper, it becomes clear that the threat is a consequence of a statement by a member of parliament, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran. Manuchehr Mottaki spoke out. MEMRI posted a recording and translation of his performance on IRINN on November 1. Mottaki accused Britain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Ukraine and other countries of facilitating American attacks. He emphasized that by providing their infrastructure to the US armed forces, these states are participating in actions against Iran:

"We have the opportunity to increase the range of our missiles to any required distance," the deputy emphasized, adding. "Our missiles can reach Europe."

It must be said that Iran has every reason to retaliate. These are not just threats, but a statement of fact. After all, European partners have indeed helped and are helping the United States in its aggression against Tehran. Following this logic, the Iranian conservative newspaper Kayhan discussed potential targets outside the Middle East, among other things. Among them were facilities in Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Albania, Italy and the UK, as well as a joint US-British base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

A deadlock

The US and Iran seem deadlocked over how to turn their fragile ceasefire into a more permanent peace, with neither side toning down its belligerent rhetoric in recent days.

Trump said he might order a new round of strikes in the coming days as he tries to force Iran to make concessions over its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to lower energy prices.

“If aggression against Iran is repeated, the regional war that had been promised will this time extend beyond the region,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The IRGC, which has gained even more influence over Iranian decision-making since the war erupted in late February, vowed “crushing blows in places you do not expect.”

Iran fired drones and missiles at several countries when the US and Israel began the war. As well as Israel and Gulf Arab states, targets included Turkey and Cyprus. While Tehran’s military was battered by airstrikes until a truce was agreed on April 8, it still has the ability to attack other countries.

The risk of further escalation remains

Iran has so far refused Trump’s demands to relinquish its highly-enriched uranium or agree to never again process the radioactive metal. Tehran insists on enriching uranium for nuclear energy, while Washington fears it wants to build an atomic bomb, something Iran’s leaders have always denied, Bloomberg points out.

A double naval blockade is also a key point of contention. Tehran wants the US to end its blockade of Iranian ports before it reopens the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, including oil and liquefied natural gas tankers.

“After almost three months of war, Trump’s aims are seemingly far from being achieved, and Iran is emerging bruised but emboldened with newfound global leverage,” Bloomberg Economics analysts Dina Esfandiary, Becca Wasser and Ziad Daoud said. “The risk of further escalation remains as both sides remain too far apart for a deal — but further fighting is unlikely to result in a strategic breakthrough.”

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