NATO warns Iran: We are ready to deal with any threat
A NATO official said on Wednesday that the alliance was prepared to deal with any threat and would always do whatever was necessary to defend all of its member states.
The statement came in response to questions about a report published by the Financial Times suggesting that Iran could be considering attacks on U.S. military targets in Europe if President Donald Trump escalated the war.
The official, whose identity Reuters did not disclose, said: “As demonstrated this year, when NATO air defenses successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading toward Türkiye from Iran on four separate occasions, deterrence and defense are in a strong and effective position.”
According to the British newspaper Financial Times, Iran is considering targeting U.S. bases in Europe if President Donald Trump orders a new war against Tehran.
According to the report, the threats are focused on facilities in southeastern Europe, particularly Bulgaria, especially after Sofia recently allowed U.S. aircraft to refuel at Bezmer Air Base.
Cyprus has also emerged as a potential target, as the island hosts British military facilities, one of which was targeted by a drone attack earlier this year.
However, analysts who spoke to Forbes have ruled out the likelihood that the war would spread to Europe. They argue that any Iranian attack against a NATO member state would prompt the alliance to invoke Article 5 of its treaty, which entails a collective response by all member states.
Observers say Iran is aware of the significant risks associated with such a move, noting that the long-range missiles previously directed at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean were largely symbolic.
They add that Europe’s advanced missile-defense systems would present a formidable obstacle. Therefore, if Iran decided to escalate, it could resort to cyberattacks instead, as any missile strike against Europe could become a dangerous “turning point.”
