An Iranian lawmaker has threatened that Tehran would fire missiles towards Europe if the United States uses bases on the continent. “If America uses its bases in Europe, including in Italy and Germany, Iran's missiles will be fired towards Europe,” Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of parliament's National Security Committee, told Euronews. The warning comes as Iran's state-run media says any renewed confrontation with the US could reach “the heart of Europe” and as the IRGC pledges an “immediate, effective response without geographical limits” to any threat.
In an interview with Euronews, Ardestani said European countries had already been at war with Iran by allowing their bases to be used in previous conflicts. "In the two previous wars we did not do this, but this time we will not let Europe's assistance to America for an attack on Iran go without consequence," he said. He added that Iran would strike any base used against it and would also target "the material and non-material assets of countries that assist America."
Fada Hossein Maleki, another member of the committee, said Iran had prepared a new approach and scenario for any renewed conflict that he believed would surprise both the US and European countries.
The threats come on the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran, which Iran commemorates as “the day of fighting global arrogance”. On Wednesday the IRGC issued a statement citing orders attributed to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei calling for updating Iran's “target bank” and placing “the enemy's material and non-material assets within range”. The statement pledged an “immediate, effective response without geographical limits”.
Outside the German embassy, government supporters hung a banner quoting National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei: “Europe will pay the price for supporting Israel.” Fars news agency reported that Iran had warned Germany its military assets would be treated as “legitimate defensive targets” if Berlin entered open military confrontation with Iran. The claim could not be independently verified. Tehran has also summoned Germany's ambassador in recent weeks over Berlin's support for Israel.
Kayhan newspaper, published under the supervision of a representative of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, wrote that Iran's range of potential targets was no longer confined to US bases in the Middle East and could extend to “the heart of Europe”, citing an order attributed to Khamenei for a “military response without geographical limits”.
Rezaei said on X that the US response to Iran's demands had been “not convincing” and that Washington would need to meet Iran's seven conditions in full before the Strait of Hormuz could reopen.
Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed the Republican Party's defeat in Tuesday's US congressional elections, writing that the American people "said no to war" and that "if the US government ignores the public will in order to act in favour of managers who pay bribes and engage in international blackmail, it will realise that our 'no' comes with a nightmare."
US President Donald Trump, asked if he would take a tougher line against Iran, gave an ambiguous answer, saying he would examine the matter and act if needed.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The explicit threat to strike European soil directly involves NATO allies and could fundamentally alter the scope of the US-Iran conflict, potentially triggering a broader war.
- The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved; these threats raise the stakes and increase the risk of maritime disruption.
- The ambivalent US response and Iran's public embrace of the Republican midterm defeat signal that diplomatic channels may be limited, making a military confrontation more plausible.
Background
The standoff stems from Iran's demands for US concessions before reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit chokepoint, and growing tensions over European support for Israel. The anniversary of the 1979 US embassy seizure provides a symbolic backdrop for Iran's escalatory rhetoric.
What to Watch
- The response from European capitals, particularly Germany and Italy, which were specifically named as potential launch sites.
- US President Trump's next move: whether he will issue a formal response or order further military preparations.
- Whether Iran carries out any symbolic strike or test to back up its rhetoric, or keeps the threat as negotiating leverage.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedIranian MP Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani warned that Iran would fire missiles towards Europe if the US used bases there.Euronews: ““If America uses its bases in Europe, including in Italy and Germany, Iran's missiles will be fired towards Europe,” Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of parliament's National Security Committee, told Euronews.”
- Partly supportedThe summary quotes the IRGC as pledging an “immediate response without geographical limits”.Euronews: “The statement pledged "an immediate, effective response without geographical limits to every level and type of threat."”
- SupportedArdestani said European countries had already been at war with Iran by allowing their bases to be used in the previous phase.Euronews: “Asked whether Europe was entering a new phase of war with Iran, Ardestani said European countries had already been at war with Iran in the previous phase by allowing their bases to be used.”
- SupportedThe IRGC issued its statement on Wednesday, the anniversary of the 1979 US embassy seizure in Tehran, and cited orders attributed to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.Euronews: “The IRGC issued a statement on Wednesday — the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran, marked in Iran as "the day of fighting global arrogance" — pledging "an immediate, effective response without geographical limits to every level and type of threat." The statement cited orders attributed to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei”
- Partly supportedFars reported that Iran warned Germany its military assets would be treated as “legitimate defensive targets” if Berlin entered open military confrontation with Iran.Euronews: “Fars reported separately that Iran had warned Germany its military assets across the region would be treated as "legitimate defensive targets" if Berlin entered open military confrontation with Iran.”
- SupportedTehran summoned Germany's ambassador in recent weeks over Berlin's support for Israel.Euronews: “Tehran has summoned Germany's ambassador in recent weeks over Berlin's support for Israel.”
- SupportedKayhan wrote that Iran’s potential targets could extend to “the heart of Europe”, citing an order attributed to Khamenei for a “military response without geographical limits”.Euronews: “Kayhan newspaper, published under the supervision of a representative of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, wrote that Iran's range of potential targets was no longer confined to US bases in the Middle East and could extend to "the heart of Europe," citing an order attributed to Khamenei for a "military response without geographical limits."”
- SupportedMohsen Rezaei said the US response to Iran's demands was “not convincing” and that Washington would need to meet Iran's seven conditions before the Strait of Hormuz could reopen.Euronews: “Rezaei wrote on X that the US response to Iran's demands had been "not convincing," saying Washington would need to meet Iran's seven conditions in full before reopening the Strait of Hormuz.”
- SupportedParliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed the Republicans' defeat in Tuesday's US congressional elections and wrote that the American people had “said no to war”.Euronews: “Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed the Republicans' defeat in Tuesday's congressional elections in a post on X, writing that the American people had "said no to war"”
- SupportedDonald Trump gave an ambiguous answer when asked whether he would take a tougher line against Iran, saying he would examine the matter and act if needed.Euronews: “Asked whether he planned to take a tougher line against Iran, US President Donald Trump gave an ambiguous answer, saying he would examine the matter and act if needed.”