Tehran's "blacklist": Which countries in Europe could be hit by Iran?

2026-08-20 08:32:23Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Tehran's "blacklist": Which countries in Europe could be hit by

A reshuffle of positions with leaders ready to continue the conflict. A group of Pasdarans who are not afraid to take risks. A huge mess of messages to spread a slogan: no retreat in the face of American pressure. Tehran relies on gestures and words, offering anonymous - and therefore always uncertain - revelations about possible initiatives.

Several sources told the Financial Times about the possibility of Iranian attacks against several countries in Europe because they support US air operations. There has been renewed talk of possible targets that are already blacklisted by Iran. These countries are not new, but have been identified by officials or regime officials. Bulgaria is again implicated, guilty of making the Bezmer airstrip available to Air Force refuelers. This presence is codified by a specific agreement.

Cyprus reappears, with the British base at Akrotiri hit in the initial phase by a suicide drone. The Turkish action to protect the Incirlik installations, which were targeted by missiles, is remembered. And again, the failed attack on Diego Garcia, the Indian Ocean atoll jointly managed by the United States and Great Britain, an important center for operations.

NATO has expressed its readiness to confront any threat to protect its partners. The Iranians certainly have the means to cause trouble. Their stockpile of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with explosive charges is still large: for certain types of operations, they don't need to hit the target, just raise the alarm.

The reserve of launchers is considerable: Washington and Tel Aviv have admitted to being surprised when they discovered how the Islamic Republic's technicians managed to build other systems despite the bombs.

Then there is the third option: attacks. There have been several incidents in Europe involving low-intensity attacks coordinated by an Iraqi militant and carried out by amateurs hired at little expense. But for months, intelligence agencies have been tracking the activity of potential saboteurs/spies, particularly between Crete and Cyprus: foreigners who were hired - according to the prosecution - by the Pasdaran to gather information on allied presences.

The article published by the Financial Times combines a propaganda aspect with a clear strategy. Tehran, precisely because the interventionist figures are now in charge, has expanded its response. It has gradually pulled back further and is now saying it is ready to do so again. Moreover, this has affected the American presence in the region: heavy strikes on the Fifth Fleet command in Bahrain have caused a personnel relocation and prevented aircraft carriers from entering.

The same thing happened with a port in the United Arab Emirates. And this has indirectly affected life on board ships, forced to abandon the stops. The constant attacks on Jordan and other bases have prompted the Pentagon to transfer tankers, reconnaissance aircraft and spy planes. Hence the need for support in Bulgaria and several NATO countries. The short-term consequences for logistics are inevitable, but some changes could become permanent with a reduction in bases in the Persian Gulf.

The Pasdarans want to create a deterrent. In Tehran, they are aware of the coldness and fear of allies surrounding Trump’s military ventures. They foresee dire scenarios for everyone, emphasizing that any support for Washington will bring consequences. They want to exploit existing tensions between friends of the United States, such as Donald’s warnings to Oman or the UAE-Saudi conflict. The Emiratis were said to have been spared the final stage because they had paid bribes to the mullahs, but a few days later, the guards attacked several oil tankers.

The adversary immediately responded with a ban on commercial and financial transactions, a retaliation that could worsen the economic situation of the Islamic Republic given Dubai's role on the global stage. Apparently, the regime is not afraid of challenges and is ready to pay the price. ( Corriere della Sera)


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