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Iran’s Araqchi Presses European Counterparts Over Use of Bases in U.S. Operations · GNN Daily Breaking News

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Iranian Foreign Minister of Bass Iraqi has intensified diplomatic pressure
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  Speaker 1: on European governments, urging them to stop allowing their military
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  Speaker 1: bases to be used in US operations against Iran. His remarks,
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  Speaker 1: delivered in calls with officials in Bulgaria and Cyprus, highlight
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  Speaker 1: Tehran's growing frustration with what it sees as European complicity
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  Speaker 1: in Washington's military campaign. Iraqi specifically criticized Bulgaria's decision to
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  Speaker 1: host US Casey one three five tanker aircraft and personnel
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  Speaker 1: at the Besmer Air Base, warning that such deployments undermined
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  Speaker 1: bilateral ties and make Bulgaria a participant in aggression. In Cyprus,
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  Speaker 1: he raised similar concerns with Foreign Minister Constantino's Combos, pointing
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  Speaker 1: to the British sovereign bases at raf Acroterieri, which have
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  Speaker 1: been used by US and British forces during strikes on
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  Speaker 1: Iranian targets. The issue is particularly sensitive because Rai ugh
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  Speaker 1: Acroteri was itself struck by an Iranian drone earlier this year,
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  Speaker 1: underscoring Tehran's willingness to retaliate against facilities it believes are
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  Speaker 1: aiding US operations. Iraqi's warnings suggest that European bases could
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  Speaker 1: become direct targets if they continue to support Washington's military posture.
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  Speaker 1: European governments, however, insist they are not parties to the conflict.
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  Speaker 1: Bulgaria has emphasized that no offensive weapons are being deployed
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  Speaker 1: on its territory, while Cyprus maintains its neutrality despite the
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  Speaker 1: presence of British bases. Britain, for its part, reaffirmed its
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  Speaker 1: commitment to allowing US use of ACROTERII for defensive purposes,
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  Speaker 1: a stance backed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in July. Strategically,
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  Speaker 1: Iraqi's campaign reflects Iran's broader effort to fracture Western unity.
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  Speaker 1: By pressing European states, Tehran hopes to limit Washington's operational
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  Speaker 1: reach and portray US allies as vuliulnerable to retaliation. Analysts
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  Speaker 1: warned that this dynamic could expand the conflict beyond the
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  Speaker 1: Middle East, pulling Europe deeper into the confrontation. For global security,
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  Speaker 1: the stakes are high. Bases in Bulgaria and Cyprus sit
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  Speaker 1: near critical energy and trade routes in the Black Sea
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  Speaker 1: and Eastern Mediterranean. Any escalation involving these facilities could disrupt
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  Speaker 1: natologistics and heighten risks for oil and gas flows to Europe. Ultimately,
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  Speaker 1: Iraqi's warnings are both diplomatic and strategic, a message that
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  Speaker 1: European cooperation with the US cares consequences, and that Iran
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  Speaker 1: is prepared to act if it perceives its sovereignty under threat.
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  Speaker 1: Whether Europe bends to this pressure or doubles down on
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  Speaker 1: its commitments will shape the next phase of the Udadas
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  Speaker 1: dot Iran confrontation.