Bulgaria has rejected Iran’s warning regarding the planned US tanker. Aircraft Deployment
Bulgaria has rejected Iran’s warning, stating that the planned deployment of US tanker aircraft will solely support logistics and will not be used for military operations abroad.
Bulgaria has rejected Iran’s warning regarding its choice to host United States tanker aircraft, asserting that the intended deployment is solely for logistical support and will not be utilized for military operations in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that there is “absolutely no possibility” of launching military missions in the region from Bulgarian territory, emphasizing that the aircraft will be used solely for logistical purposes.
Radev informed ministers that the tanker aircraft would be refueled outside of Bulgarian airspace and would not engage in combat operations, according to Bulgarian media.
The Bulgarian government announced earlier this week its intention to seek parliamentary approval for the temporary stationing of up to eight US tanker aircraft at the Bezmer Air Base in southeastern Bulgaria. Parliament is anticipated to cast its vote on the proposal during the sitting on Wednesday.
The planned deployment elicited a strong reaction from Iran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei cautioned that permitting the United States to utilize Bulgarian territory for operations against Iran would render Sofia “an accomplice of aggressors and lawbreakers.”
Bulgarian officials dismissed the accusation, emphasizing that the aircraft are meant exclusively for logistical support and are not intended for combat operations.
The aircraft are anticipated to be based at the Bezmer military facility, situated approximately 260 kilometers southeast of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.
The diplomatic exchange occurs amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, following the breakdown of an interim ceasefire agreement established last month, raising fears that the conflict may develop into a wider regional confrontation.
