Iran has stepped up its diplomatic pressure on European countries allowing the United States to use their territory for military activities linked to operations against Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi urged Bulgaria to reconsider its decision to temporarily host US military aircraft at the Bezmer air base. Iranian state media reported that Araqchi raised the issue during a phone call with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova.
Araqchi said Bulgaria’s decision to approve the deployment of US aircraft could help facilitate what Iran considers aggression against Iran. He described the move as unacceptable and said it could damage the traditionally friendly relationship between Tehran and Sofia.
Iran has repeatedly warned countries that allow their territory or military facilities to support US operations against Iran that they could face consequences.
Araqchi also spoke with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. During the call, he stressed the need to ensure that foreign military bases in Cyprus are not used to support military operations against Iran.
Bulgaria’s parliament recently approved the temporary deployment of up to eight US KC-135 tanker aircraft and approximately 250 American personnel at Bezmer air base. Sofia has maintained that no offensive weapons will be stationed there and that the arrangement does not make Bulgaria a participant in military operations.
Cyprus is home to two British sovereign military bases, including RAF Akrotiri. The base was targeted by an Iranian drone in early March, shortly after Israel and the United States began strikes against Iran.
Britain had earlier agreed to a US request allowing its bases to support defensive operations involving Iranian missiles. London later clarified that RAF Akrotiri would not be part of that specific defensive arrangement.
The wider defence cooperation was maintained by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in July. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards subsequently warned Britain against supporting US military operations against Iran, increasing concerns over the wider regional and European security situation.
