Trump Halts Iran Talks, Shifts to Gradual Sanctions as Iran Considers Strikes on US Assets in Europe

US President Donald Trump has ordered a halt to negotiations with Iran, opting instead for a strategy of gradual economic strangulation after Tehran refused to compromise. This move marks a significant escalation in US policy toward Iran amid ongoing tensions.

Simultaneously, Iranian officials are reportedly contemplating attacks on American military assets in Europe if the conflict intensifies. According to the Financial Times, Tehran is seriously evaluating options to raise the stakes, with many regime leaders viewing a full-scale military confrontation as inevitable. Iranian forces have conducted assessments targeting US facilities in Southeastern Europe, including Bulgaria, which recently approved the use of the Bezmer Air Base for US refueling operations.

Cyprus is also considered a potential target for retaliation, following a drone strike on a British airbase there in March. Senior commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have warned that any new comprehensive conflict would see Iran expand its attacks beyond the Middle East to more distant targets.

An internal source highlighted that last month's precise missile strike on a US base in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers, served as a direct message to Europe about its vulnerability. The source cautioned that any significant damage to Iranian infrastructure could escalate the war beyond the region, potentially reaching European soil without limits.

This development underscores the growing risk of broader regional and international escalation as diplomatic efforts collapse and military posturing intensifies.