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Iranian officials have weighed possible strikes against U.S. military positions in Europe, including sites in Bulgaria and Greek Cyprus, if hostilities with Washington intensify, according to a report.
Tehran has considered expanding its response beyond the region, with Iranian sources speaking to the British Financial Times warning that Europe could come under attack if the U.S. goes too far. One source told the newspaper that Iran would not put geographic limits on its response to U.S. aggression.
The potential targets are linked to U.S. and British military activity supporting operations in the Middle East. In Bulgaria, the focus is on Bezmer Air Base, where Sofia approved the temporary deployment of up to eight U.S. KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and up to 250 U.S. military personnel. Two U.S. aircraft arrived at the base on July 31.
Bulgaria's parliament authorized the deployment from July 24 to Oct. 1, with the aircraft intended to support U.S. operations in the Middle East. Bulgarian officials have stressed that no direct military action connected to the conflict would be carried out from Bulgarian territory.
Iran had already protested the deployment through diplomatic channels. Its embassy in Sofia sent a diplomatic note to Bulgaria in July after the government moved ahead with plans to host the U.S. tankers.
For Greek Cyprus, the focus is on RAF Akrotiri, a British military base that was previously targeted during the conflict. In March, an Iranian-made Shahed-type drone launched from Lebanon struck the base, causing limited damage, while two other drones heading toward Akrotiri were intercepted.
Greek Cypriot officials attributed the attack to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group based in Lebanon.
Despite the reported preparations for a wider confrontation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran was seeking a definitive end to the war rather than a temporary ceasefire.
"During the last war, we were not seeking a 'ceasefire'; on the contrary, we wanted a 'definitive end to the war,'" Araghchi said in an interview published by Iranian media.
He argued that temporary ceasefires could simply create the conditions for renewed fighting. "Temporary ceasefires are a repetition of the war; Iran aims to achieve a definitive end to the war," Araghchi said.
Araghchi also called for a regional security framework based on collective security and efforts to address economic imbalances, arguing that lasting peace in the Persian Gulf would require broad regional cooperation.
He credited Qatar and Pakistan with playing an effective mediating role between Tehran and Washington and described Iran's current relationship with Doha as being at a "very positive stage."
Araghchi also highlighted President Masoud Pezeshkian's efforts to strengthen regional ties and diplomatic dialogue, including relations with Azerbaijan and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq.
"The gains of dialogue and diplomacy go far beyond political tensions and conflict," Araghchi said.
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