Iran warns Bulgaria against aiding US military operations

Report Content

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman warned Bulgaria on Tuesday against allowing the U.S. to use its territory for military operations against Iran.

The Bulgarian government has said it will seek parliamentary approval to station up to eight U.S. tanker aircraft at an air base in the Balkan country, which is a member of NATO and the European Union.

Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said any activity that facilitates U.S. attacks on Iran would amount to complicity in what he described as “aggression and war crimes”, according to Iranian state media.

Baghaei urged Bulgaria not to become “an accomplice of aggressors and lawbreakers”, they said.

The tanker aircraft are mainly used for airborne refueling of other aircraft.

Bulgaria’s government aims to station the U.S. aircraft at the Bezmer military facility, about 160 miles southeast of the capital Sofia.

The U.S. and Iran have intensified strikes since an interim ceasefire deal signed a month ago unraveled, raising the possibility of a return to all-out war.

Classification
Region
Europe
Analytical Domain
Strategic
Primary Category / Secondary Categories
Political-Military / Military Operations
SALUTE Report
Size
up to eight U.S. tanker aircraft
Activity
Iran warns Bulgaria against allowing U.S. military operations
Location
Bulgaria · Bezmer military facility
Unit
U.S. military
Time
Tuesday
Equipment
tanker aircraft
Summary

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman warned Bulgaria against permitting U.S. military operations on its territory. The Bulgarian government plans to seek parliamentary approval to station up to eight U.S. tanker aircraft at the Bezmer military facility. Iran condemned this potential action as complicity in aggression and war crimes, amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran following a failed ceasefire.

Key Facts
  • Iran warns Bulgaria against U.S. military operations
  • Bulgaria seeks approval to station U.S. tanker aircraft
  • Iran describes U.S. actions as aggression and war crimes
  • The U.S. and Iran have intensified strikes recently
  • The tanker aircraft are for airborne refueling.

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