Iran warns Bulgaria over US use of its military bases

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, delivered a sharp warning to Bulgaria after Sofia approved U.S. requests to use Bulgarian military facilities in support of operations aimed at Tehran. Araghchi raised the issue in a telephone call with Bulgaria's foreign minister, Velislava Petrova, saying the move risked escalating tensions.

During the call Araghchi briefed Petrova on recent developments in the region and described the continuation of American "aggression" and Washington's role in increasing tensions in West Asia. He singled out Sofia's decision to permit U.S. military aircraft to operate from the Bezmer air base as particularly problematic.

Araghchi told Petrova the approval to host U.S. aircraft at Bezmer was "unacceptable and contrary to the traditionally good and friendly relations between the two countries" and urged that Sofia "urgently reconsider the decision."

Diplomatic responses

He also warned in categorical terms that any party involved in a military attack on Iran "will inevitably have to bear responsibility for the consequences." Petrova, for her part, stressed the long history of good bilateral ties between Bulgaria and Iran and asserted that Bulgaria has no intention of joining a war.

Araghchi later held a separate telephone conversation with the foreign minister of the Greek Cypriot administration, Konstantinos Kombos, in which he stressed the importance of preventing "hostile" forces from using foreign military bases on the island to launch strikes against Iran. The exchange marks a renewed Iranian protest directed at Sofia over the Bezmer decision.

Photo: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN