Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry urges Iran to cease strikes in Gulf region
In a statement on March 1, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry urged Iran to cease its strikes in the Gulf region.
The call came after Iran retaliated against attacks on it by the United States and Israel that left supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenie and other senior leaders dead, with Iran firing missiles not only at Israel but also at US bases and civilian airports across the Gulf region.
The Foreign Ministry in Sofia said that it is following with growing concern the actions of the regime in Iran, including those directed against civilian targets on the territory of Bulgaria’s partner countries in the Gulf.
Every effort has been made to convince Iran that the international community cannot allow the development of its nuclear program, as well as its disturbing missile production, the Foreign Ministry said.
“Instead of showing restraint by striking countries in the region, Tehran is today expanding the scope of the dangerous military escalation for which it is responsible,” the statement said.
“We urge Iran to cease these actions by fulfilling the conditions that would open the way for a resumption of dialogue and a solution in line with the expectations of the international community and the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people.”
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X that she was convening an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council via video link on Sunday to address Iran and the rapidly unfolding events across the Middle East.
“I have been in contact with our partners in the Gulf countries,” Kallas said.
“The Iranian regime’s indiscriminate attacks against its neighbours carry the risk of dragging the region into a broader war and we condemn this. It is essential that the war does not spread any further. The Iranian regime has choices to make,” she said.
Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she was convening a special Security College meeting on March 2.
“For regional security and stability, it is of the utmost importance that there is no further escalation through Iran’s unjustified attacks on partners in the region.”
Von der Leyen announced in March 2025 the creation of the Security College, which involves all 27 European Commissioners meeting for briefings and discussions on the European security landscape.
The Security College, which first met in April 2025, does not have a fixed schedule of meetings. Among its previous meeting was one to discuss the June 2025 US attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran.
