According to Iranian state media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova, described Sofia's approval of the temporary deployment of US military aircraft at Bezmer Air Base as "facilitating aggression against Iran."
Araghchi stated that this step is unacceptable and contrary to the traditional friendly relations between the two countries. Iran had previously warned countries that allow their territory to be used for US military operations against it that they "could face consequences."
Last week, the Bulgarian parliament approved the temporary deployment of up to 8 KC-135 tanker aircraft and up to 250 personnel at Bezmer Air Base, despite Iran's objections. The Sofia administration stated that no offensive weapons would be deployed and that this step does not make Bulgaria a party to military operations.
Araghchi also held a phone call with Cypriot Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos and stressed the importance of preventing the use of foreign military bases on the island against Iran.
Cyprus hosts two sovereign bases belonging to the United Kingdom. One of them, RAF Akrotiri, was struck by an Iranian drone in early March, a few days after Israel and the US launched an attack on Iran.
At the start of the war, the United Kingdom accepted the US request to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in storage or on launchers. This arrangement was continued by the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office in July. Following this, Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the UK not to facilitate US military operations against Iran.
