Iran Denies Firing Missile at Turkey — NATO Says It Did

A ballistic missile nearly hit Turkey — a NATO country. On Wednesday, Turkey's military said a ballistic missile left Iran, flew over Iraq and Syria, and was heading toward Turkish airspace. NATO air defenses shot it down over the eastern Mediterranean. Pieces of the missile fell into the water near Turkey.

This is a big escalation. Turkey is a member of NATO. An attack on a NATO country could trigger Article 5 — a rule that says an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all of them. That could pull all of NATO into the war.

But Iran says: we didn't do it. Iran's armed forces released a statement Thursday denying they fired any missile at Turkey. They said Iran "respects the sovereignty" of Turkey. They did not explain where the missile came from or what else might have launched it.

What Each Side Said

Turkey's response: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the nation. He said Turkey is "taking all necessary precautions" with NATO allies. He warned all parties to "stop escalating." Turkey's foreign minister called Iran's foreign minister directly to protest.

NATO's response: NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance "stands firmly" with Turkey. She said NATO's air defenses are "strong across all domains." However, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he does not believe Article 5 will be triggered by this incident.

Iran's response: Iran denied everything. Iranian state media said the military released a formal statement rejecting the claim that Iran fired toward Turkey. No explanation was given for where the missile actually came from.

Why it matters: If NATO gets pulled into the war, the conflict could grow much larger. Right now it is mainly the US, Israel, and Iran fighting. Adding the full 32-member NATO alliance would be a historic shift.

Other Developments — Day 5 of the War

US Senate votes to keep the war going. Earlier Wednesday, the Senate voted 47 to 52 to block a resolution that would have limited Trump's power to attack Iran. The measure failed. A similar vote in the House of Representatives is expected Thursday, but it also faces long odds.

Airstrikes continue across Iran. Israeli warplanes struck Tehran, the holy city of Qom, Isfahan, and western Iran on Wednesday. Iranian state media reported damage to residential buildings in addition to military sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said buildings near the Isfahan nuclear site were damaged, but no nuclear material was released.

Spain pushes back on US. The White House claimed Spain agreed to help the US military. Spain denied it. Spain's government said it opposes the war on Iran. Trump has threatened to cut off trade with Spain over the disagreement.

Khamenei's funeral delayed. Iran postponed funeral services for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first wave of strikes on Saturday. Officials cited "logistical issues." The funeral was expected to draw millions of mourners — and was seen as a potential target for more strikes.

Power vacuum in Iran. With Khamenei dead and other senior officials killed, no clear leader has emerged. Analysts point to Mojtaba Khamenei — the late leader's son — as a possible successor, but no decision has been announced.

By the Numbers — Day 5

• 💀 1,045+ killed in Iran since Feb. 28
• 🏥 300+ children hospitalized; 6,000+ wounded
• 🚢 87 Iranian sailors dead after warship IRIS Dena sunk by US sub
• 🏛️ 47–52 Senate war powers vote — failed to limit Trump
• 🛡️ 1 ballistic missile intercepted by NATO near Turkey