Iran’s FM urges Bulgaria not to allow US jets to deploy at its airbase

By Reuters 30 July 2026, 6:38 pm

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a news conference with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein after their meeting at the foreign ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, June 28, 2026. (AP/ Hadi Mizban)

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urges Bulgaria to reconsider its decision to allow the temporary deployment of US military aircraft at the Bezmer airbase, Iranian state media reports.

During a phone call with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Araqchi says Sofia’s approval of a US request to station military aircraft at the base to support military operations amounts to facilitating aggression against Iran, adding the move is unacceptable and contrary to the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries.

Iran has repeatedly warned countries allowing their territory to be used for US military operations against it that they could “face consequences.”

Araqchi holds a separate phone call with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, during which he stresses the importance of preventing foreign military bases in Cyprus from being used against Iran.

Bulgaria’s parliament last week approved the temporary deployment of up to eight US KC-135 tanker aircraft and up to 250 personnel at Bezmer air base despite Iranian objections. Sofia has said no offensive weapons would be deployed and that the move did not make Bulgaria a party to military operations.

Cyprus hosts two British sovereign military bases, including RAF Akrotiri, which was struck by an Iranian drone in early March, a few days after Israeli and US strikes launched the war with Iran.