Iran has warned it will target US military installations across Europe in retaliation for any American strike, heightening security concerns at major bases in the UK.
Delivering the stark threat this week amid escalating Middle East tensions, General Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated that any US attack on Iranian territory would trigger reprisals against American assets, "particularly in European countries."
He cautioned Washington against making what he called a "mistake," pointing to the risk of a wider regional and international conflict.
General Rezaei's Warning
General Rezaei said: "If the Americans make a mistake and attack us, we will not limit ourselves to targeting nearby bases; we will also target their distant bases, particularly in European countries."
He added: "We may target some islands that they believe our missiles cannot reach."
The warning comes just 24 hours after US commanders relocated several aircraft from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk due to a credible Iranian threat. According to flight-tracking data, nine Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and three Ospreys were moved from the base.
US Bases in the UK
US reports indicate that security levels have since been raised at both RAF Mildenhall and nearby RAF Lakenheath, while the Wall Street Journal notes that American officials are still evaluating the exact nature of the threat.
The United States operates 16 major Air Force facilities across Britain, with RAF Lakenheath serving as its largest hub. Located near Brandon and Lakenheath in Suffolk, the base houses F-35 and F-15E fighter squadrons and supports over 5,000 active-duty personnel alongside thousands of civilian workers and family members.
UK Government Response
In response to the aircraft relocation, Downing Street affirmed that British bases remain secure and that their protection is a "top priority." Asked about bilateral discussions concerning the safety of American military assets in the UK, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman emphasised that the US remains "one of our top security partners."
"We're in constant communication with them, sharing intelligence and accessing threats together," the spokesman said. "Aircraft and other assets move regularly according to operational requirements."
The development emerged just hours after President Donald Trump declared the war in Iran was "militarily over." During an unexpected press conference, he said: "Iran militarily is effectively over. We're just keeping it the status quo."
