Iran is considering launching attacks on US military targets in Europe if President Donald Trump escalates the conflict, according to a report. Sources close to Iran’s government told the Financial Times that potential targets included a British air base in Cyprus that was targeted by a drone in March. Other countries in southeastern Europe such as Bulgaria, which approved US access to its Bezmer air base for refuelling last month, were also weighed up as a potential target for strikes.
It follows warnings that Tehran is considering switching to a “fully offensive” strategy, a senior Iranian official told on Monday. A deal between the US and Iran appears further away than ever as Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz as American territory on Tuesday. Sharing a bizarre map of the region with a large blue circle around the waterway, he declared the vital shipping route “NEW US territory” on Truth Social.
Shortly after sharing the image, the US leader announced that there are “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled with the Islamic Republic of Iran”. All water mines have been removed or detonated.” However, data shared by Kpler with The Independent shows that only ten vessels passed through on Monday, compared to 130 to 140 before the outbreak of war. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, according to Kpler data seen by .
Iran had earlier said the shipping route is to remain closed until the US meet the conditions agreed in an interim deal, according to Iran’s top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf in comments shared by state media. Conditions include lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as releasing Iran’s frozen assets. Saudi Arabia’s Aramco resumed oil loading from inside the Strait last week with more waiting to load, according to shipping data and trade sources who spoke to .
Tehran says it has reached an agreement with Oman over a plan for ships to transit the Strait and that they are now working to finalise details for a joint statement. Muscat has been working on a resolution to reopen shipping through the waterway, which passes through both countries. On Monday, the US leader threatened to launch an attack on Oman as a 60-day period to negotiate a ceasefire deal expired.
He was later asked if he was out of patience with Oman and told reporters: "No, I don't think they behaved very well, but we'd handle them very easily, just like we do other things." A deal appeared to be in sight after Iran and the US agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan over two months ago. But the agreement collapsed last month over different understandings surrounding a clause on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran attacked three commercial vessels passing through the Omani corridor of the waterway.
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