Iran Ready to Target US Military Bases in Europe, Official Warns
Iran warns it is ready to strike U.S. military bases in Europe and remote islands if used for attacks against Tehran, sparking global conflict fears.
Portal Islam 
This article was first published in Indonesian. Baca versi Bahasa Indonesia →
TEHRAN — The potential for escalation in global conflict has heightened after the Iranian government declared its military readiness to attack U.S. military bases located outside the Middle East, including in Europe and remote islands. Tehran warned that retaliatory strikes would be launched if Washington's military facilities in those countries are used to conduct airstrikes against Iranian territory.
The stern warning was issued by Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and head of national security. In an exclusive interview with the Lebanese television network Al Mayadeen broadcast on Wednesday (11/11/2026), Rezaei emphasized that Iran's military defense perimeter would be expanded significantly if the U.S. resumes military action.
Rezaei's Warning and Expanded Military Targets
According to reports by Indonesian news outlets Republika and CNN Indonesia on Thursday (12/11/2026), Mohsen Rezaei stressed that foreign bases facilitating U.S. military operations would automatically become targets for Iranian strikes. As quoted by Republika, Rezaei told Al Mayadeen:
“If American aircraft take off from American military bases—even those located in European countries or other distant territories—to bomb Iran, we will strike those bases as well,”
Meanwhile, according to CNN Indonesia, Rezaei's quote was reported with a slightly different wording but carried the same core message:
“If American aircraft take off from military bases, even those located in European countries or other distant regions, we will attack those bases,”
Elaborating on the warning, Republika reported that Rezaei added Iran would respond to any new U.S. assault by targeting Washington's military installations located much further away. Rezaei emphasized that targets would include “those we have never attacked before,” adding, “We may even strike certain islands they consider beyond the reach of our missiles.”
Nuclear Red Lines and Iran-US Negotiations
Beyond military matters, Republika noted that Rezaei also touched upon negotiations between Iran and the United States. He clarified that nuclear-related issues are currently not part of the talks between the two nations.
Rezaei reiterated that Tehran has established non-negotiable red lines regarding its nuclear program. This firm stance, according to Rezaei, “includes the decision not to ship even a single grain of enriched material outside Iranian territory.”
Historical Context and Regional Incidents
Rezaei's warnings align with earlier statements from Iranian officials threatening to expand the theater of conflict. According to CNN Indonesia, late last September, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, publicly stated that clashes between the U.S. and Iran could widen further “to reach the Indian Ocean and perhaps other regions.”
This threat of expanding the war zone coincides with rising security tensions on the ground, reminiscent of the escalation in the US-Iran conflict and explosions in the Strait of Hormuz affecting vital maritime passages. In the Indian Ocean itself, the joint U.S.-UK strategic military base on Diego Garcia sits nearly 4,000 kilometers from Iranian territory.
As noted by CNN Indonesia, several previous military and security incidents linked to this confrontation include:
- In March, British authorities reported that Iran launched two missiles toward the Diego Garcia installation in the Indian Ocean; one missile fell short of its target, while the other was intercepted.
- In September, RAF Fairford airbase in the United Kingdom was allegedly targeted in a planned attack by Tehran, which was thwarted after local reports led to the arrest of three men accused of acting as Iranian agents.
- These military tensions also recall earlier incidents, such as the escalation in Middle East tensions when Iran claimed to shoot down a US drone over Qeshm Island.
- The foreign geopolitical dispute has also carried domestic political implications for the U.S., where Donald Trump admitted that the war against Iran was a key factor in midterm election losses.
Islamic Reflections on Peace and Resolving Conflict
The rising triggers of international disputes and threats of cross-continental warfare serve as a sobering reminder of the sacred value of peace for humanity. Islam firmly emphasizes making every effort to de-escalate hostility and prevent ruin on Earth.
Allah commands in the Qur'an that conflicting parties must always remain open to peace whenever the opportunity arises:
۞ وَاِنْ جَنَحُوْا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ ۗاِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ ﴿٦١﴾
And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.
Qur'an, Surah Al-Anfaal [8]: 61 (Sahih International)
Muslims are encouraged to continue making du'a that world leaders be granted wisdom and discernment in their decision-making, so that military conflict may be averted to safeguard millions of human lives across the globe.
