Iran: Bulgaria’s decision-makers must bear responsbility for ‘dangerous decision’ to host US tankers
Decision-makers in Bulgaria must bear responsibility for the dangerous decision to deploy a US aerial refuelling aircraft to their military bases, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, according to a Facebook post by Iran’s embassy in Sofia on July 27.
“We are aware that Bulgaria has previously permitted the use of Sofia Airport for the deployment and use of US aircraft to support the military actions of the United States against Iran,” the statement said.
“The Bulgarian people know well that the Iranian people have never had any problems with Bulgaria. For decades, our relations with Bulgaria have been based on mutual respect.”
Bulgaria’s National Assembly voted on July 22 to approve the hosting at Bezmer military air base of United States tanker refuelling military aircraft, which are to be used in support of US operations in the Middle East.
Approval was given for the aircraft to be at Bezmer from July 24 to October 1 2026. According to Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, the aircraft are expected to arrive this week.
Sofia has sought contact with Tehran on the issue of the deployment of United States aircraft at the Bezmer airbase, telling it that Bulgaria is not a party to the conflict, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ivan Angelov of Prime Minister Roumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party told bTV on July 26.
Representatives of Bulgaria’s security services told a July 27 meeting convened by Prime Minister Roumen Radev that there is no direct threat to Bulgaria’s security, the government information service said.
(Photo via the Iranian embassy’s Facebook page)
