Iran has formally protested Bulgaria’s decision to host U.S. military tanker aircraft, calling on Sofia to reconsider the move amid heightened regional tensions and concerns over military operations in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised the issue during a phone conversation with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova, arguing that allowing U.S. military aircraft to operate from Bulgarian territory in support of regional missions is inconsistent with the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
According to Iranian officials, Araghchi described the deployment as unacceptable and urged Bulgaria to reverse its decision. He also referenced international legal principles, maintaining that permitting a country’s territory to be used for military action against another state raises serious legal and diplomatic concerns.
The protest follows a decision by Bulgaria’s parliament to authorize the temporary deployment of up to eight U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and 250 U.S. military personnel at Bezmer Air Base to support American operations in the Middle East through early October.
Separately, Araghchi held discussions with Constantinos Kombos, the foreign minister of the Greek Cypriot Administration, emphasizing that foreign military facilities on the island should not be used for operations targeting Iran.
According to Iranian statements, Kombos reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to international law and peaceful conflict resolution, adding that it had received assurances from the United Kingdom that military bases on the island would not be used against any country, including Iran.
The diplomatic exchanges come as regional tensions remain elevated, with ongoing disputes between Washington and Tehran continuing to influence military deployments and security policies across the wider Middle East.
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