The Iranian government raised its tone against European countries this Tuesday (3) and warned that any military participation in the ongoing conflict alongside Israel and the United States will be considered an “act of war”.
In an interview with the newspaper Tehran TimesForeign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that “any European military action is an act of war that demands a response.” The message was aimed especially at Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
Over the weekend, the three countries released a joint note in which they threatened to destroy Iran’s missile and drone capabilities if they deem it necessary. The text states that they will be able to authorize “necessary and proportionate defensive actions” to neutralize, even at the source, the Iranian launch means. The group also confirmed alignment with Washington and regional partners on the topic.
The verbal escalation was not restricted to the Iranian foreign minister. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has declared that “the gates of hell will open wider and wider” against the United States and Israel.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated that the country is focused on “defense” and rejected the possibility of resuming negotiations with Donald Trump’s government.
According to him, “eternal disgrace will fall on those who claimed to seek diplomacy, but, faced with Iran’s logic, gave in and opted for the military route.” Baghaei also accused the Europeans of adopting a “contradictory” stance and warned that any violation could spark a “fire” with global consequences.
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Russia warns of nuclear risk
Russia has stated that the war in the Middle East could trigger a nuclear arms race, increasing international concern about the possibility of the conflict going beyond regional borders.
Meanwhile, Tehran maintains that it is committed to humanitarian principles, despite accusations of attacks on neighboring countries’ energy infrastructure. In harsh statements, Iranian officials also accused Israel of deliberately expanding the conflict and trying to defame the country on the international stage.
US withdraws citizens and employees from the Middle East
Faced with the deterioration of the security situation, the United States advised American citizens who are in 14 countries in the Middle East and nearby regions to leave these places immediately by commercial means.
Among the countries mentioned are Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
In addition, the State Department ordered the departure of non-essential government employees and their families from at least six countries: Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The measure comes after attacks attributed to Iran and Hezbollah against American embassies in the region.
The scenario points to an expansion of the conflict, with indirect — and possibly direct — involvement of European powers. The Middle East once again occupies the center of global geopolitical tension, now at risk of formal internationalization of the war.
