TPC Staff
The Palestine Chronicle / August 24, 2026
Iran warned that US military bases in European countries could become targets if those states allow their territory to be used for attacks against the Islamic Republic.
Warning over US bases in Europe
Iran warned on Monday that US military bases located in European countries could be targeted if their host nations participate in military attacks against the Islamic Republic.
Speaking during his weekly press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said countries had no reason to fear Iranian military action unless they allowed their territory to be used for attacks against Iran.
“There is no justification for any country to fear Iran unless that country opens its territory to the United States for aggression against Iran,” Baghaei said.
He stressed that “it is Iran’s right to target the source and origin of any aggressive action against the Islamic Republic.”
According to Al-Mayadeen’s Arabic report, Baghaei explicitly warned that “Iran will strike US bases in European countries if those countries participate in aggression against it.”
‘Aggressor’ cannot set terms for ending war
Baghaei rejected the prospect of Washington determining the terms for ending the ongoing confrontation.
“Iran does not accept that the aggressor sets the conditions for ending the war,” he said.
The spokesman maintained that Iran had not initiated the war and was exercising what Tehran considers its legitimate right to self-defense.
“Iran did not start the war and was exercising its legitimate right to self-defense, and will not allow the war to end on the aggressor’s terms,” he said.
Baghaei also rejected suggestions that Tehran should bear responsibility for the continuation of hostilities.
“We did not start the war, and we should not blame ourselves for the continuation of this situation,” he said.
Tehran accuses Washington of violating agreements
Baghaei said Iran had exhausted diplomatic avenues in an attempt to prevent the war, accusing Washington of repeatedly violating agreements reached between the two sides.
“Iran did everything possible through the diplomatic path to prevent war and secure national interests and benefits,” he said. “In many cases, arrangements and agreements were reached, but the US side violated all of them.”
He specifically referred to a memorandum of understanding that he said survived for only three weeks before Washington abandoned its provisions.
“The memorandum of understanding did not last more than three weeks, after which America revoked all its provisions,” Baghaei said.
He argued that Iran’s military capabilities and domestic cohesion had enabled the country to thwart the objectives of its adversaries.
“Iran’s power and the cohesion of its people are the shield of the Islamic Republic,” he said, adding that Tehran had “thwarted all the enemy’s plans.”
Naval blockade an ‘act of aggression’
Baghaei also addressed the US naval blockade of Iran, describing it as an act of aggression and warning against further escalation.
“The naval blockade on Iran at the present time is in itself an aggressive act, and escalation of this situation will certainly have its own repercussions,” he said.
He rejected reports that several million barrels of oil continued to move through the Strait of Hormuz each day, describing the claims as part of “the enemy’s psychological warfare.”
Baghaei also accused Washington of using economic pressure against the Iranian population.
“America uses every tool to punish Iranians simply for their insistence on their sovereignty, national independence, and dignity,” he said.
Talks with Oman, relations with Pakistan
Turning to regional diplomacy, Baghaei said relations between Iran and Pakistan were going through “one of the best stages,” with both governments seeking to expand cooperation.
He said the visit of Oman’s foreign minister to Tehran was unrelated to the visit of Pakistan’s army chief, despite the two occurring around the same time.
“During the visit of Oman’s Foreign Minister to Tehran, we will discuss bilateral relations and issues related to the security of the Strait of Hormuz and transit routes,” Baghaei said.
He added that Iran also intended to expand trade relations with Afghanistan.
(TPC, Al-Mayadeen)
