Report: Iran considers hitting US targets in Europe if Trump escalates war

Key Points:

• Iran has reportedly considered retaliatory strikes on U.S. military targets in southeastern Europe, including Bulgaria and Cyprus, if President Trump escalates the conflict, according to the Financial Times.
• Iranian forces have also explored the possibility of attacking subsea fiber-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz to broaden the confrontation beyond the Middle East.
• The U.S. administration, under Trump, has halted talks with Iran and shifted strategy from immediate military action to sustained economic pressure, while maintaining a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains reduced, with many vessels rerouted through an Omani shipping route opposed by Iran, amid concerns the emerging traffic management framework could increase Iranian control.
• Washington plans to impose additional sanctions on Iran, aiming to force Tehran to accept U.S. terms, while Iranian officials believe Trump faces domestic pressure to de-escalate.