Iranian security official warns of possible strikes on U.S. bases in Europe
Iran's security council secretary said Tehran could target European bases hosting American aircraft if the United States conducts new attacks on Iran.
Iranian Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei told the Al Mayadeen network that any European base from which U.S. aircraft operate could be at risk of attack if Washington initiates further strikes against Iran.
"If the Americans make a mistake and attack us, we will not limit ourselves to nearby bases. We may even target some American military bases in European countries," Rezaei said.
The remarks follow President Donald Trump's statement that future strikes on Iran are "unlikely," while noting that U.S. forces remain "locked and loaded" should the situation change, according to the BBC.
U.S. officials have not confirmed any specific threat to European installations. The United States currently operates 31 bases in Europe and shares 18 with allied nations, with roughly 84,000 service members assigned to the European Command area as of early 2025, data from the Center for European Policy Analysis shows.
Recent unrelated legal actions in the United States involve three men accused of being Iran-backed operatives and charged with a plot to attack RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, a base that previously hosted American aircraft. Iran has denied involvement in that case.
U.S. Air Force units based in the United Kingdom, including RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, have adjusted deployments amid unspecified security concerns, with several aircraft removed from Mildenhall on November 10.