Iran threatened to strike Europe if it enters the war
In an official statement in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai warned that any actions by European countries in the context of the war against Iran would be considered an act of war, Euronews reports.
According to him, such a move would mean complicity with the aggressors and would lead to an expansion of retaliatory strikes, particularly on European cities and countries.
"It will be an act of war. Any such actions against Iran will be considered complicity in aggression. It will be considered an act of war against Iran," Esmail Baghai said during a briefing for state news agencies.
He also said that the defensive actions of European countries would in fact be offensive in nature. "Defensive policy is synonymous with offensive policy, it makes no sense, whether they want to deprive Iran of the ability and potential to resist aggressors," the spokesman said. "It would be unfortunate if these countries sided with the aggressors, they have already done enough against Iran," he added.
The statement came amid discussions in Europe about strengthening defence due to the risk of the war spreading beyond the Middle East and the possible threat to the continent's security.
On Monday, Iranian-made drones attacked the British Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. According to officials, the drones may have been launched from Lebanon, possibly by Hezbollah.
Following this, the UK strengthened the defences of its base on the Mediterranean island. British media reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering sending a warship to reinforce the base's defences against possible new attacks.
Greece, Germany and France have expressed their readiness to help Cyprus strengthen its defences. Greece and France have sent naval frigates, and Athens has also deployed F-16 fighter jets.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday during a visit to North Macedonia that the Alliance is not involved in events in the Middle East, but will "defend every inch of NATO territory" if necessary.
He called Iran a threat to the region, an "existential threat" to Israel and "a huge threat to us here in Europe." "Let's be absolutely clear about what is happening here. Iran is close to acquiring nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles," Mark Rutte said.
He added: "I think we are all better off without him, and with his nuclear and ballistic capabilities destroyed and devalued, as is now the case," referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Saturday's strike.
Mark Rutte stressed that the operation was carried out by the United States and Israel, with support from individual allies provided on a bilateral basis.
French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered an increase in France's nuclear arsenal in view of the threats to the continent, in particular Russia's war against Ukraine and the war in the Middle East. He also announced his intention to launch a programme to deploy French nuclear deterrents on the territory of other European countries. Eight countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands, have expressed interest in hosting these weapons.
