Iran warns Bulgaria not to let US use airports for military action

Iranian authorities warned NATO member Bulgaria last month not to let the US use its airports for planes participating in military operations in Iran, the foreign ministry says.

Earlier on Wednesday, Stanislav Balabanov, a deputy with the “There is Such People” party, showed a note from March 18 in which the Iranian government protested against US military refuelling planes parked at Bulgaria’s Vasil Levski airport.

In the note, Iran said it “reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and national interests in accordance with international law.”

Later on Wednesday, in a statement to reporters, Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov confirms the note and says: “Bulgaria is not at war.”

“No combat aircraft are being loaded over Bulgaria to participate in military operations,” he told reporters. “We maintain intact diplomatic relations with the Iranian side.”

In late February, Bulgarian media reported that several US military planes landed at the Sofia Vasil Levski civilian airport, and authorities have said they were part of the NATO forward deployment, which Raikov confirms.

“Our parliament has not approved decisions to support relevant military actions in the Strait of Hormuz region,” he says.

Some European countries, concerned over the war with Iran, have pushed back on US military operations.

Spain closed its airspace and denied base access, Italy rejected a stopover at Sigonella base, and France blocked overflight of US–Israel weapons flights.