An Iranian lawmaker has warned that the country’s missiles can hit Europe and could eventually target U.S. cities. The remarks come amid rising tensions between Tehran, Western governments, and Israel, with sanctions and military action intensifying the standoff.
Amir Hayat-Moqaddam, told Iranian media on Sunday that Tehran has been developing long-range strike capabilities for two decades. He warned that “perhaps our next missile will hit Washington directly.”
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and Iran’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
The comments underline the heightened risk of a broader conflict as Iran openly discusses offensive capabilities against both European capitals and the United States. Western governments have been working to contain Tehran’s nuclear program, while Israel and the U.S. have already carried out strikes designed to degrade Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. The rhetoric adds urgency to ongoing debates over sanctions, nuclear oversight and regional security.
What To Know
Hayat-Moqaddam said Iran’s missiles can already reach targets anywhere in Europe.
“Even now, all European countries are in our range. With our existing missiles we can strike France, Germany, the U.K., and all of Western and Eastern Europe,” he said.
Hayat-Moqaddam added that Iranian naval vessels could move close enough to reduce the distance to U.S. cities such as Washington and New York from 10,000 kilometers (about 6,200 miles) to roughly 2,000 kilometers (about 1,240 miles), also placing them within striking range one day.
Snapback Sanctions
Hayat-Moqaddam also talked about the prospect of renewed sanctions, dismissing European threats to activate the United Nations “snapback” mechanism, which would restore penalties suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal. France, Germany and the U.K. have warned Tehran that unless it fully cooperates with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the measures could be re-instated later this month.
Hayat-Moqaddam said that sanctions have already reached their maximum effect since the U.S. left the nuclear deal under President Donald Trump in 2018. He said Iran has already endured the harshest measures possible, insisting that “all possible sanctions have already been imposed on our country.”
Israeli and U.S. Military Actions
Tensions spiked in June when Israel launched a surprise attack targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The operation coincided with the sixth round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Among the casualties were Iran’s chief of staff and several senior nuclear scientists.
Within days, the U.S. launched airstrikes on three nuclear sites. Trump later said these “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, although the claim was contested by Iranian authorities. The coordinated strikes highlighted the willingness of both Israel and the U.S. to use military force alongside economic pressure to contain Iran.
What People Are Saying
Amir Hayat-Moqaddam, Iranian lawmaker: “Perhaps our next missile will hit Washington directly. We can target America from the sea. The Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guard has been working for 20 years on making it possible to strike America from Iranian ships. Even if we have not yet reached this technology, it remains within our grasp.”
What Happens Next
With Iran asserting that its missiles can already reach Europe and may soon be able to target American cities from the sea, Western governments face mounting pressure to enforce sanctions and safeguard their security. The coming months will test whether diplomacy or confrontation will dominate the next phase of the crisis.
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