Iran warns Bulgaria against hosting American military aircraft

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned Bulgaria’s decision to allow the United States to station military aircraft at the country’s Bezmer airbase, calling the arrangement “unacceptable.” Araghchi issued the rebuke on Thursday, suggesting that Bulgaria’s government should urgently reconsider the decision it has made regarding the deployment of American warplanes on its territory.

The Iranian diplomat’s comments reflect Tehran’s broader concerns about expanding American military presence in Eastern Europe, particularly in regions that Iran views as strategically important to its regional interests. Bulgaria, a NATO member state and EU country located in southeastern Europe, has increasingly aligned itself with Western military initiatives.

Araghchi accompanied his criticism with a thinly veiled warning, stating that “the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to defend its interests and national security against any aggression.” The statement is typical of Iran’s rhetoric when responding to what it perceives as threats to its security or regional influence. However, it remains unclear whether Iran views the Bulgarian airbase deployment as a direct threat or as part of a broader pattern of Western military expansion it opposes.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.