Key facts
- Iran warned Bulgaria against allowing U.S. military operations against Iran.
- Bulgaria plans to seek parliamentary approval to station U.S. tanker aircraft at the Bezmer military facility.
- Iran considers any facilitation of U.S. attacks on Iran as complicity in aggression and war crimes.
- Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed a diplomatic note from Iran but stated Bulgaria is not at war and no combat aircraft are operating from its territory for Iran-related missions.
Iran has issued a stern warning to Bulgaria, cautioning the NATO and European Union member against permitting the United States to utilize its territory for military operations targeting Iran. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, stated that any action facilitating U.S. attacks on Iran would constitute complicity in "aggression and war crimes." He urged Bulgaria not to become an "accomplice of aggressors and lawbreakers."
The Bulgarian government has indicated its intention to seek parliamentary approval for stationing up to eight U.S. tanker aircraft at the Bezmer military facility, located approximately 260 km southeast of the capital, Sofia. These aircraft are primarily used for aerial refueling.
Earlier diplomatic exchanges reveal that Iranian authorities had sent a protest note to Bulgaria on March 18 regarding U.S. military refuelling planes at Sofia's Vasil Levski airport. In the note, Iran asserted its right to take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and national interests.
However, Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov confirmed the note but clarified that Bulgaria is not at war and that no combat aircraft are operating from its territory for missions related to Iran. He emphasized that diplomatic relations with Iran remain intact.
Reports from late February indicated that U.S. military planes had landed at Sofia Vasil Levski civilian airport as part of NATO's forward deployment. In a broader regional context, Spain has closed its airspace and denied base access to U.S. military aircraft involved in the conflict, while Italy rejected a stopover at Sigonella base and France blocked overflights of U.S.–Israel weapons flights.