• Official: NATO air defenses demonstrated effectiveness earlier this year when they intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles heading toward Turkiye

Arab News

LONDON: NATO has said it is prepared to defend all its members amid a report that Iran considered targeting US military sites in Europe if Washington further escalated its military campaign against Tehran.

A NATO official told Arab News on Wednesday that the alliance’s air defenses had demonstrated their effectiveness earlier this year when they intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles heading toward Turkiye on four separate occasions.

“As demonstrated earlier this year when NATO air defences successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading to Türkiye from Iran on four separate occasions, our deterrence and defence posture is strong and effective,” the official said.

“NATO is prepared to address any threat and will always do what is necessary to defend all Allies,” the official added.

The comments followed a Financial Times report examining possible Iranian responses to further US military escalation, including potential attacks on American military sites in Europe.

The US maintains military bases and forces across Europe, including in several NATO member states.