Iran Sends Warning to Bulgaria

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that any action enabling US strikes against Iran would amount to involvement in what he described as “aggression and war crimes.” He called on Bulgaria not to become “an accomplice to aggressors and violators of international law,” according to Iranian state media.

The warning comes after the Bulgarian government submitted a proposal to the National Assembly seeking approval for the deployment of up to eight US Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, their crews, up to 250 American military personnel with personal weapons and ammunition, as well as related airport equipment.

The planned deployment is expected to take place at Bezmer airbase between July 24 and October 1, 2026. The request was forwarded to parliament after being approved by the Council of Ministers, while the Defense Committee backed the government proposal with 11 votes in favor, one against and two abstentions.

The issue is expected to be discussed in the plenary hall, with the current request differing from the previous deployment of US aircraft to Bulgaria. This time, the stated purpose is support for US operations in the Middle East, rather than NATO exercises, and the aircraft would be stationed at the military facility in Bezmer instead of Sofia’s civilian airport.

Tanker aircraft such as the KC-135 are primarily used to refuel other aircraft during flight, providing logistical support for military operations.

The Iranian warning comes amid renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran after a temporary ceasefire agreement collapsed. Both sides have intensified military actions in recent weeks, raising concerns over a possible return to a broader conflict.

Bulgarian diplomat Lyubomir Kyuchukov commented that the main difference between the current request and the previous one is that the purpose of the deployment has now been openly stated.

“This time the purpose has been declared openly, while the previous time it was concealed, and it is to provide logistics through the aircraft for strikes on Iran,” Kyuchukov said in an interview with NOVA NEWS.

According to him, the situation raises serious questions because the military actions between the United States and Iran are being carried out without a common position from the European Union and NATO.

“A very serious question arises, considering that practically no one even disputes that these military actions have nothing to do with international law,” Kyuchukov said, adding that EU member states have been left to make their own decisions regarding cooperation with Washington.

He noted that some countries with greater political and economic resources, such as Spain, refused similar requests, while others, including Italy and the United Kingdom, took more cautious positions.

Kyuchukov said Bulgaria must also consider its relations with the United States, but stressed that the key issue is the purpose of the aircraft’s presence.

“Because these tanker planes logistically support combat operations, and this is not in the agreement, and that is precisely why this entire issue needs to be addressed to the National Assembly,” he said.

The diplomat added that Bulgaria would not formally become a participant in the war through the deployment, but argued that the country would become involved in the broader conflict by taking a position.

“Bulgaria is not part of the war with this action, but it is part of the conflict, since it has taken a side in it,” Kyuchukov said.

He also argued that the confrontation between the United States and Iran had never fully ended despite previous attempts to establish a ceasefire.