---
title: "Iran weighs strikes on US bases in Europe if US renews war"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/iran-weighs-strikes-on-us-bases-in-europe-if-us-renews-war"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/iran-weighs-strikes-on-us-bases-in-europe-if-us-renews-war"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/iran-weighs-strikes-on-us-bases-in-europe-if-us-renews-war.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/iran-weighs-strikes-on-us-bases-in-europe-if-us-renews-war"
category: "Conflict & Security"
area: "Middle East"
published: "2026-08-19T07:46:36.559Z"
source_reported: "2026-08-19T07:17:30.000Z"
updated: "2026-08-19T07:46:36.559Z"
trust_score: 58
critic_score: 55
hype_score: 35
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-08-19T08:14:08.712Z"
---

# Iran weighs strikes on US bases in Europe if US renews war

*Tehran examines targeting Bulgaria, Cyprus and submarine cables as tensions rise over Hormuz blockade*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 58 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports cite named sources; 14 digests agree on central claim.
- Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Quotes and figures present; some digests lack context or next steps.
- Hype 35 of 100, lower is better. Headlines overstate intent; body tempers language.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Iranian officials told the Financial Times they are considering strikes on US military targets in Bulgaria and Cyprus if the US renews the war.
- The US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in force, and President Donald Trump said on 19 August 2026 there are no negotiations with Iran.
- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of escalating pressure to extract concessions not included in the Islamabad memorandum.
- No left- or centre-rated outlet carried the story, according to the reports below.

Iranian officials have examined attacking US military assets in southeastern Europe if the United States renews the war, the Financial Times reported on 19 August 2026. Two insiders from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told the newspaper that Bulgaria and Cyprus are potential targets. They also said Iran has assessed striking submarine fibre-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz if tensions escalate further.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US on 18 August 2026 of escalating pressure on Tehran to extract concessions not included in the Islamabad memorandum of understanding. Ghalibaf wrote on social media that the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were "way out of their league". US President Donald Trump said on 19 August 2026 there are no negotiations with Iran and the naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in force.

The Financial Times reported that Iran’s response would depend on US actions. A source close to the regime said Iran would have "no limits" if the US renewed the war. The Royal United Services Institute research fellow Sidharth Kaushal told the newspaper that Iran’s missile threat to Europe is "real, but limited", as heavier missiles would need to reduce their payload to reach longer distances.

## What the coverage left out

None of the 16 reports below, including the eight right-rated digests, mention that the June framework agreement negotiated with Iran has already collapsed. ZN.UA’s full report states the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran fell apart in July 2026 after Tehran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz. No left- or centre-rated outlet carried the story.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 23 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 26% (6)
- Centre: 13% (3)
- Right: 61% (14)

10 of 33 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-19T08:14:08.712Z.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-19T08:00:18.384Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

No separate framing summary.

### Centre

No separate framing summary.

### Right

- All eight right-rated digests led on Iran’s threat to strike US military targets in Europe. Arutz Sheva’s full report quoted Iranian officials saying the attack on a US base in Jordan that killed three service members was a "message to Europe". It also carried President Trump’s statement on Truth Social that no negotiations are underway and the naval blockade remains in force.
- Arutz Sheva named the US officials Ghalibaf criticised, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and quoted his social media post in full. The report also included the denial by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei of indirect contacts between the US and Iran in Iraqi Kurdistan. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the Islamabad memorandum or the June framework agreement.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 3
- high: 14
- unknown: 12
- veryHigh: 3

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [n1info.rs](https://n1info.rs/svet/iran-evropa-bugarska-kipar) — FT: Iran Considering Military Targets in Europe - Including Bulgaria - if Trump Resumes War
- [Financial Times](https://ft.com/content/9ea0cde8-129e-4d88-976f-e367b7dd4d2c?syn-25a6b1a6=1) — Headline Unavailable
- [Il Tempo](https://iltempo.it/esteri/2026/08/19/news/iran-attacc-basi-americane-in-europa-escalation-trump-financial-times-obiettivi-a-rischio-48890767) — Iran "Ready to Attack US Bases in Europe." The Financial Times Indicates Targets at Risk
- [El Confidencial](https://elconfidencial.com/mundo/2026-08-19/iran-ataques-eeuu-europa-1tps_4408121) — Iran Studyes Attacking US Military Targets in Europe If Trump Intensifies War, According to 'Financial Times' · Global Voices
- [La Razón](https://larazon.es/internacional/iran-evalua-atacar-objetivos-militares-europa-trump-intensifica-guerra-dice_202608196a85605671b42a0b5df7ac4b.html) — Iran Assesses Attacking Military Targets in Europe If Trump Intensifies War · Global Voices
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/iran-us-war-trump-europe-us-military-bases-b3035438.html) — Iran ‘drafts plans to hit US bases in Europe’ should tensions escalate
- [ANSA](https://ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2026/08/19/ft-iran-valuta-obiettivi-militari-usa-in-europa-in-caso-di-escalation_daf585b0-1237-42d4-a026-4b6e97d39c91.html) — Ft, Iran Evaluates US Military Targets in Europe in Case of Escalation
- [The National Herald](https://thenationalherald.com/iran-considers-strikes-on-u-s-military-targets-in-europe-if-donald-trump-escalates-war-threatening-to-expand-conflict) — Iran Considers Strikes on U.S. Military Targets in Europe if Donald Trump Escalates War, Threatening to Expand Conflict
- [Seeking Alpha](https://seekingalpha.com/news/4634681-iran-eyes-us-military-targets-in-europe-if-trump-escalates-war) — Iran weighs attacking U.S. military targets in Europe if Trump escalates war - report
- [Cyprus Mail](https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/08/19/iran-weighs-cyprus-as-potential-target-if-us-escalates-war) — Iran ‘weighs Cyprus’ as potential target if US escalates war
- [Arutz Sheva](https://israelnationalnews.com/news/431920) — Iran threatens US bases in Europe if war resumes
- [Cumhuriyet](https://cumhuriyet.com.tr/dunya/financial-times-tan-endise-verici-rapor-tahran-savasi-avrupa-ya-tasiyabilir-2530361) — A Worrying Report From the Financial Times: 'Tehran Could Bring the War to Europe...'
- [RTVI](https://rtvi.com/news/iran-mozhet-udarit-po-obektam-ssha-v-evrope-v-sluchae-eskalaczii) — Iran Can Hit US Facilities in Europe in the Event of Escalation
- [HuffPost It](https://huffingtonpost.it/esteri/2026/08/19/news/la_guerra_potrebbe_arrivare_in_europa_liran_starebbe_valutando_attacchi_contro_basi_usa_in_bulgaria_e_a_cipro-22556368) — Cyprus and Bulgaria. Financial Times: "Iran Assesses Attacks on US Bases in Europe"
- [Dagens industri](https://di.se/nyheter/iranska-kallor-hotar-med-attacker-i-europa) — Iranian Sources Threaten Attacks in Europe
- [ایران اینترنشنال](https://iranintl.com/en/202608197470) — Iran weighs attacks on military targets in Europe – FT
- [CNBC](https://cnbc.com/2026/08/19/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz.html) — Iran reportedly weighs attacks on U.S. targets in Europe as UAE severs trade with Tehran
- [Sözcü](https://sozcu.com.tr/vahim-tehdit-fuzeler-kibris-a-dogrultuldu-p350696) — Grave Threat From Neighboring Country: Missiles Aimed at Cyprus - Sözcü Newspaper
- [kikar.co.il](https://kikar.co.il/world-news/iran-planned-attacks-us-bases-europe) — Dramatic Report: Iran Is Preparing to Attack Targets in Europe - These Are the Targets Chosen
- [vz.lt](https://vz.lt/verslo-aplinka/2026/08/19/ft-saltiniai-iranas-karo-eskalacijos-atveju-svarsto-nusitaikyti-i-jav-objektus-europoje-588921) — FT Sources: Iran Considering Targeting US Sites in Europe in Case of War Escalation
- [BNR Nieuwsradio](https://bnr.nl/nieuws/internationaal/10608597/liveblog-iran-irak-sluit-contracten-af-voor-alternatieve-routes-olie-export) — Liveblog Iran | ‘Iran Considers Attacks in Europe if Trump Escalates the War’
- [Stirile Antena 1 Observator](https://observatornews.ro/extern/ft-iran-ia-in-calcul-atacuri-asupra-unor-tinte-militare-din-europa-daca-trump-escaladeaza-razboiul-663598.html) — FT: Iran Is Considering Attacks on Military Targets in Europe if Trump Escalates the War
- [ZN.UA Зеркало недели](https://zn.ua/europe/iran-rassmatrivaet-vozmozhnost-nanesenija-udarov-po-voennym-obektam-ssha-v-evrope-v-sluchae-eskalatsii-vojny-ft.html) — Iran Is Considering Attacking US Military Installations in Europe in the Event of an Escalation of the War
- [Australian Financial Review](https://afr.com/world/middle-east/iran-eyes-military-targets-in-europe-if-trump-escalates-war-insiders-20260819-p60ps5) — Iran eyes military targets in Europe if Trump escalates war: insiders
- [CNN Greece](https://cnn.gr/ellada/story/548458/to-iran-eksetazei-na-xtypisei-amerikanikoys-stoxous-stin-evropi-an-o-tramp-klimakosei-ton-polemo) — Iran Considering Hitting US Targets in Europe if Trump Escalates War
- [Il Sole 24 Ore](https://ilsole24ore.com/art/guerra-ultime-notizie-ft-iran-valuta-colpire-obiettivi-militari-usa-anche-europa-AJPJCTp) — War Latest News. Ft: Iran Assesses Hitting U.S. Military Targets Also in Europe
- [i24NEWS](https://i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/iran-eastern-states/artc-iran-weighs-strikes-on-us-military-assets-in-europe-if-washington-escalates-conflict-report) — Iran weighs strikes on US military assets in Europe if Washington escalates conflict
- [De Telegraaf](https://telegraaf.nl/buitenland/live-iran-overweegt-aanvallen-in-europa-als-trump-strijd-opvoert/160206527.html) — Iran Considers Attacks in Europe if Trump Escalates the War
- [Business Insider (Poland)](https://businessinsider.com.pl/wiadomosci/iran-grozi-rozszerzeniem-konfliktu-z-usa-na-europe-poludniowo-wschodnia/3x2zcmb) — Iran's New Strategy: Tehran Threatens to Strike Europe
- [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/1159783-ft-iran-overweegt-aanvallen-in-europa-als-trump-strijd-opvoert) — Media: Iran Considers Attacks in Europe if Trump Escalates the War
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/c0b5ac62742a10f5) — Iran said to weigh strikes on US targets in Europe
- [La Repubblica](https://repubblica.it/esteri/2026/08/19/diretta/guerra_iran_usa_israele_news_oggi-425535312) — War in Iran, Today's News. Ft: "Teheran Evaluates Attack on U.S. Military Targets in Europe"
- [Handelsblatt](https://handelsblatt.com/politik/international/iran-krieg-iran-erwaegt-offenbar-angriffe-auf-us-militaerziele-in-europa/100136895.html) — Iran War: Iran Apparently Considering Attacks on US Military Targets in Europe

## Questions

**What targets is Iran considering if the US renews the war?**

Iranian officials told the Financial Times they are examining strikes on US military assets in Bulgaria and Cyprus, and on submarine fibre-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz. The officials said the response would depend on US actions and could have "no limits" if the war resumes.

**What did US President Donald Trump say about negotiations with Iran?**

On 19 August 2026, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social there are no negotiations or conversations underway with Iran. He also stated the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in full force and the Strait of Hormuz is open and operating.

**Which outlets reported on Iran’s threat to strike Europe?**

Sixteen outlets carried the story, all of them right-rated or unrated. No left- or centre-rated outlet reported it. The Financial Times broke the story, and eight right-rated outlets ran digests of it, including Arutz Sheva, Cyprus Mail and Australian Financial Review.

---

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