NATO vows to defend all allies as Iran ‘weighs’ targeting US bases in Europe

NATO vows to defend all allies as Iran 'weighs' targeting US bases in Europe.

Key points

• While US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 45 cents, or 0.53%, to $85.39 a barrel, brent ‌crude futures climbed 45 cents, or 0.49%, to $91.47 by 07: 54 GMT.
• Araghchi separately credited Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian with playing a key role in negotiations that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
• Citing Iran's Oil Ministry, *Fars* documented that the revenue was 1.5 times higher than the amount recorded during the same period last year.
• Brent crude hit its highest level since July 30 and WTI reached ‌its highest since July 31.
• Pakistan strongly condemned the unprovoked attack carried out by Israeli occupation forces on Abu al-Duhur Airbase in Idlib, Syria.

Iran proposes military control over Strait of Hormuz under new security plan.

Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei has remarked a proposed security plan for the Strait of Hormuz would place the management, monitoring and inspection of the strategic waterway exclusively under Iran and its armed forces.

According to Al Jazeera, citing Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, the plan would bar vessels considered hostile, involved in espionage or posing a threat to Iran's national security from entering the strait.

Under the proposal, the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces would additionally set rules for collecting transit fees and service charges from vessels passing through the waterway.

In practice, the proposal comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian office-holders asserting greater authority over shipping through the strategic passage. Foreign powers' influence in region declining rapidly: Ghalibaf.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has remarked the influence and intervention of foreign powers in the Middle East is "declining rapidly" as a new regional order emerges.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Iraq, Ghalibaf remarked the United States was seeking an "honourable way out" of the region.

He additionally dismissed as unrealistic the idea of securing territory "from the river to the sea" for Israel, describing such ambitions as mere dreams. Iran earns $7.5bn in oil revenues during first four months of 2026.

As noted by *Al Jazeera*, iran generated $7.5 billion in oil-related foreign currency revenues during the first four months of 2026, with the funds created available to the country's central bank, according to Iran's semi-official *Fars* news agency.

Meanwhile, the ministry remarked the funds are anticipated to meet the government's foreign currency requirements through the end of December.

NATO remarked it is ready to "address any threat" in response to reports that Iran is considering an option of striking US military bases in Europe if the conflict with Washington escalates.

"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, " a NATO official informed CNN on Wednesday.

Notably, an official remarked NATO is "prepared to address any threat and will always do what is necessary to defend all allies." Oil hits three-week high on uncertainty over Hormuz.

Oil rates hit a three-week high on Wednesday as uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing supply disruptions backed the market.

Trump remarked on Tuesday no negotiations were taking place with Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz was open, contradicting ‌Iran. It noted the waterway remained shut. Iran's armed forces warn Gulf countries against assisting US military.

Iran's armed forces on Wednesday cautioned Gulf countries against assisting the US military, saying it would be tantamount to joining American military operations.

"We wish to warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US military operation, " armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi remarked, according to Iran's Mehr news agency. Iran weighs targeting US bases in Europe if war escalates: reports.

Iran has considered an option of striking US military bases in Europe if the conflict with Washington escalates, the Financial Times documented on Wednesday, citing two individuals described as insiders within the Iranian setup.

American military assets located in Bulgaria and Cyprus were among the potential targets discussed by Iranian authorities.

In practice, the documented consideration comes as efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict between Iran and the United States have reached an impasse.

Discussions between Washington and Tehran have stalled, and there are at present few indications that negotiations will resume in the near term. Iran's post-war foreign policy to be 'completely different': Araghchi.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has remarked the recent war involving Iran has altered perceptions of security throughout the region, with Arab countries increasingly recognising the need for a collective, regional security framework rather than reliance on foreign military bases, according to Mehr News Agency.

In an interview with the president's communications office, Araghchi argued that the conflict exposed the limitations of outside military deployments. He remarked foreign forces and bases had failed to provide the protection anticipated by host countries and, in his view, had instead contributed to greater insecurity.

Araghchi remarked countries without foreign military bases experienced fewer consequences during the conflict than states hosting American facilities. He asserted that the bases primarily served to protect Israel rather than providing effective protection to the countries where they were located.

According to Araghchi, meaningful regional security would remain tough to achieve while significant economic and security disparities persisted between countries in the region.

He additionally indicated that Iran's foreign policy after the war would undergo a major shift, describing the country's post-war approach as fundamentally different from its policy before the conflict.

Araghchi separately credited Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian with playing a key role in negotiations that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli attacks against Syria.

"Such provocative actions constitute a flagrant violation of the international law, and have the potential to further undermine regional peace and stability, " Foreign Office remarked in statement.

Pakistan expresses its unwavering solidarity with the brotherly individuals of Syria, and reiterates its full backing for the sovereignty, and territorial integrity as well as peace and prosperity of Syrian Arab Republic. Iran rejects UAE missile attack claim as baseless.

Iran has rejected a UAE claim that missiles were fired from Iranian territory toward the Emirates, calling the accusations baseless.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei expressed regret over the accusation and called on all regional parties to avoid unfounded claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehr News documented.

He cited "the existing complexities caused by the continued mischief of America and the Zionist regime against regional peace and security, and especially the record of numerous false-flag operations." Hormuz traffic slows as uncertainty over waterway persists.

As ‌most shipowners avoided the key waterway as of a lack of clear ‌signalling on a reopening, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed on Tuesday, preliminary ‌shipping data indicated on Wednesday.

Six commodity vessels ‌crossed the strait on Tuesday, according to Kpler data as of 02: 58 GMT on Wednesday, down from nine a day earlier and below the 10-day daily average of 11, AFP documented. Oil edges up on uncertainty over exports through Hormuz.

Oil rates ticked higher in early trade on Wednesday, climbing for a fourth straight day on supply uncertainty as investors weighed conflicting messages from?Tehran and Washington on whether the Strait of Hormuz is open ‌to ships, Reuters noted.

Taken together, the developments around NATO vows to defend all allies as Iran weighs targeting US bases point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.