Bulgaria Dismisses Iran Warning Over Planned US Tanker Aircraft Deployment

Bulgaria has dismissed Iran’s warning over its decision to host United States tanker aircraft, insisting the planned deployment is strictly for logistical support and will not be used to support military operations in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said there was “absolutely no possibility” that military missions in the region would be launched from Bulgarian territory, stressing that the aircraft would serve only logistical purposes.

According to Bulgarian media, Radev told ministers that the tanker aircraft would be refuelled outside Bulgarian airspace and would not participate in combat operations.

The Bulgarian government announced earlier this week that it would seek parliamentary approval to temporarily station up to eight US tanker aircraft at the Bezmer Air Base in southeastern Bulgaria. Parliament is expected to vote on the proposal during Wednesday’s sitting.

The planned deployment prompted a sharp response from Iran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned that allowing the United States to use Bulgarian territory for operations against Iran would make Sofia “an accomplice of aggressors and lawbreakers.”

Bulgarian officials rejected the accusation, reiterating that the aircraft are intended solely for logistical support and are not designed to support combat operations.

The aircraft are expected to be stationed at the Bezmer military facility, located about 260 kilometres southeast of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

The diplomatic exchange comes as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise following the collapse of an interim ceasefire agreement reached last month, fuelling concerns that the conflict could escalate into a broader regional confrontation.

Goodness Anunobi

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