Rubio says Iranian threats not constraining US operations in Europe

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel (not seen) give a joint press conference at the Necessidades Palace, the Portuguese foreign ministry, in Lisbon on October 8, 2026. [Zed Jameson – Anadolu Agency]

Potential Iranian threats do not limit American military operations across Europe or NATO territory, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday, Anadolu reports.

“No. There is nothing we want or need to do against Iran that we can’t still do,” Rubio said in response to a question as he departed Greece for Portugal on the final stop of his European tour.

The Pentagon redeployed all American bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to domestic bases following a security alert in late September involving suspicious vehicles.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident, while Tehran rejected the allegations.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged that unspecified threats prompted the relocation. “Yeah, I think we can say that. They didn’t fly out by accident. There were some threats,” he said.

READ: US intends to ‘live by’ security pact with Saudi Arabia: Rubio

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