Iran's security chief warns western bases will be targets for retaliation

Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei has threatened to target US military bases outside the Middle East, including those in Europe, if they are used to launch attacks against Iran. Speaking to Al Mayadeen TV, Rezaei said that if American aircraft take off from their bases - be it in Europe or distant regions - to bomb Iran, their bases would also be targeted by Tehran.

He added that Iran's response would focus on America's distant military installations and possibly certain islands they believe are beyond its missiles' reach.

The conflict began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones at various countries in the region, while also backing militant groups in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. Diplomatic efforts have been ongoing, led by Qatar and Pakistan, to negotiate an end to the war.

In the meantime, the US has seemed to soften its stance on further strikes, partly due to the unpopularity of the war with Iran following recent midterm elections.

Tehran has made clear its demands for Washington to accept a package of measures, including unfreezing assets and lifting sanctions, in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy conduit that has been blockaded since the conflict began. Iranian officials have previously hinted at expanding the conflict's geographic scope if the US attacks again, with one adviser suggesting the war could extend to the Indian Ocean.

Notably, a US-British military base at Diego Garcia, located nearly 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Iran, fired two missiles at the installation in March, though one fell short and the other was intercepted.