Iran has evaluated the feasibility of striking US military installations in southeastern Europe and attacking undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz in the event of American military escalation, according to a Financial Times report citing multiple sources within the Iranian regime.
Two officials close to the government told the Financial Times that the Iranian military has examined potential strikes against US assets positioned in southeastern European nations, particularly Bulgaria, which approved use of its Bezmer air base for US refueling operations last month. A third insider disclosed that Cyprus is an additional target, noting that the British air base on the island was struck by an Iranian-made drone in March.
Shift to European Targets
The assessment represents a departure from previous Iranian strategy, which focused primarily on Middle Eastern targets such as US military installations and energy infrastructure. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and senior military figures have signaled a fundamental shift in doctrine: any large-scale conflict would now extend beyond the region.
“Should the US go too far, Iran will defend itself at any price, go beyond the region, and hit Europe too,” one official told the Financial Times.
Iranian officials last month warned Britain that “any base that is used to launch an attack on Iranian territory will be considered a legitimate target.” The message followed formal diplomatic warnings issued to both Cyprus and Bulgaria about the consequences of allowing their bases to be used for operations against Tehran.
Sidharth Kaushal, a senior analyst at London’s Royal United Services Institute, assessed Iranian missile capabilities against European targets as “real, but limited.” Iran’s medium-range Shahab ballistic missiles could potentially reach US assets in southern and southeastern Europe, though effectiveness diminishes at extended distances.
Subsea Cable Threat
Beyond conventional military targets, Tehran’s planners have evaluated attacks on subsea fiber-optic cables running through the Strait of Hormuz should conflict intensify. Major cables including the AAE-1, FALCON, and Gulf Bridge International routes pass through Iranian territorial waters, carrying critical financial and communications traffic between Europe, Asia, and the Gulf.
Iran has previously floated plans to charge international technology firms licensing fees for cable access, with military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari stating on social media in May: “We will impose fees on internet cables.” Security analysts note that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards possess combat divers, mini-submarines, and underwater drones capable of threatening such infrastructure.
Regime sources told the Financial Times that they increasingly view renewed hostilities with Washington as an inevitability rather than a possibility. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei elevated hardline security and military officials to prominent positions last week, and diplomacy aimed at reopening the strait has reached a stalemate. The scope and timing of any Iranian response, sources emphasized, hinges entirely on American actions.
Sources: Financial Times; Israel Hayom; Royal United Services Institute
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