Bulgaria Holds Security Meeting Over US Tanker Deployment as Iran Issues Warning

Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened a security working meeting attended by Interior Minister Ivan Demerdjiev, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Peev and senior officials from the National Security and Intelligence agencies. The officials reported no direct threat to Bulgaria’s security but stressed continuous coordination with regional partners and NATO to monitor possible escalations in the Middle East and Ukraine. Measures were announced to tighten security at the Bezmer air base, national airspace and other critical infrastructure ahead of the deployment of up to eight U.S. KC‑135 tanker aircraft and crews, authorised by parliament for the period 24 July 2026 to 1 October 2026.

At the same time, Iran’s foreign ministry issued a warning to Bulgarian authorities, stating that “those who make decisions in Bulgaria must bear responsibility for the dangerous decision to place American aerial refuelling aircraft on their military bases.” The Iranian statement cautioned against potential activation of “sleeper cells” in Bulgaria in response to the U.S. aircraft presence.