Iran Threatens US Bases in Europe Amid Tensions

Iran's leadership has issued a warning to the United States, threatening to target any military bases involved in aggression against the Islamic Republic, stretching from West Asia to Europe. Mohsen Resai, Secretary General of the Iranian Security Council, stated on X that "any military base involved in the aggression - from West Asia to Europe - will be a legitimate target for Iran's deadly attacks." He further warned that there would be no safe distance, refuge, or immunity. This comes after US President Donald Trump had recently declared the military confrontation with Iran "effectively over," attributing the maintenance of the status quo to pressure from neighboring countries.

However, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf told Al Jazeera that Iran is determined to move beyond the current state of "neither war nor peace." He suggested this would be achieved through sustainable deterrence rather than necessarily through negotiations, stating that an agreement with Washington is possible and the ball is in the US court. Ghalibaf reiterated seven conditions that the US must meet for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and engage in negotiations, noting that the Trump administration has not yet provided a concrete response.

US security agencies believe that the Iranian regime's activities against current and former US officials have reached a new level of escalation. The US Justice Department is prosecuting three men accused of aiding and abetting attacks and related plans, allegedly on behalf of Tehran. These charges are part of a broader concern over Iran's actions.

Reports indicate that Tehran's demands for de-escalation include the cessation of all hostilities against Iran and its allies, the end of the naval blockade on Iranian ports and ships, the lifting of sanctions and oil export bans, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Iran is also reportedly seeking reparations for war damages, demands that the US government is unlikely to meet. Meanwhile, the US military's regional command stated that US forces are working around the clock to keep the Strait of Hormus open for commercial shipping and to strictly enforce the "iron sea blockade" against Iran.

According to the article, Israel and the US initiated their conflict with Iran in late February due to concerns over the nuclear program of the Iranian regime and its support for terrorist organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Iran has frequently threatened Israel with destruction, and its forces had previously disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Navy has been escorting civilian vessels for months to facilitate trade through the strait.