Iran threatens US bases in Europe if Trump resumes strikes

Iran has warned that if the United States resumes strikes, it will hit back far beyond the Middle East, possibly reaching US bases in Europe and undersea internet cables. The Times reported the threats after President Donald Trump said he could hit the regime with a "hammer" once the midterm elections are over. The vote is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and it has become the point after which a renewed US attack looks possible. Talks brokered by Qatar are still going on at the same time.thetimes.com

Tehran widens its threats

A statement attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Oct. 31 told the armed forces to be ready to respond "immediately, effectively, and with no geographical restriction," RFE/RL reported. According to Fortune, the statement also called for an updated "data bank of targets" covering "all kinds of financial and non-financial assets." Former foreign minister Manuchehr Mottaki said on state television that any new war "will reach Europe." Some Iranian outlets suggested Tehran may drop its self-imposed 2,000-kilometer limit on missile range, RFE/RL said.rferl.org+1

On Sunday, army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said any new US "provocation" would meet a "far broader response than before." He also warned that "the American people and their European allies" should know Iran would help decide how any conflict ends, The Korea Herald reported, citing Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. Jeremy Binnie, an analyst at Janes, said Iran could extend its missiles' range by using lighter warheads. He said the Khorramshahr missile is estimated to reach about 3,000 km RFE/RL.biz.heraldcorp.com+1

Trump keeps options open

At a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday, Trump said: "The only reason why I'm not finished with Iran is I want to be nice… But at some point we're going to have to give them the hammer" Arab News, citing AFP. The day before, he named Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear site, as one of the targets still left. Axios reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged him to strike right after the midterms, but Trump preferred to let the negotiations run their course RFE/RL. On Monday, Iran said "the ball is in the U.S. court" CBS News.cbsnews.com+2

Gulf allies brace for impact

Gulf states that host US forces fear they will pay the price again. Reuters reported from the Manama Dialogue security conference that four European officials said US forces in the region could attack at short notice, possibly as soon as this week. Iranian officials told the agency that Tehran has drawn up target lists that include undersea cables and military bases, some of them covert. "We're basically looking at the worst-case scenario," a Gulf official said. A White House official said "all options" remain available and that "President Trump holds all the cards."rmb.reuters.com

UAE official Anwar Gargash said his country hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough but is "braced for the worst" Reuters.rmb.reuters.com