Iran warns Bulgaria over US KC‑135 tanker aircraft at Bezmer base

Iran warning Bulgaria US KC‑135 Bezmer base diplomatic tension

Iran’s foreign ministry issued a fresh warning to Bulgaria, marking the third time Tehran has protested the Balkan state’s decision to host United States KC‑135 aerial refuelling aircraft at the Bezmer military air base. The Iranian statement, delivered by spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, said Bulgarian decision‑makers must bear responsibility for the “dangerous” deployment and warned that the move is not an isolated case but part of a pattern of support for U.S. operations against Iran.

Bulgaria’s parliament approved the relocation of up to eight KC‑135 tankers and about 250 armed personnel from the civilian Sofia airport to Bezmer, a step that triggered local protests over fears the base could become a strategic target. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told the public that the risk of an Iranian missile strike remains limited, noting the military base offers better protection than the previous civilian location. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly thanked Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev for backing the deployment, further inflaming diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Sofia.

Entities

Dimitar Stoyanov · Donald Trump · Esmaeil Baghaei · Islamic Republic of Iran · Republic of Bulgaria · Rumen Radev · US KC‑135 tanker aircraft · United States · United States of America

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] The Bulgarian parliament approved relocating the U.S. aircraft to the Bezmer military air base. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs
[● 13 SOURCES] Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the risk of an Iranian missile attack is limited and lower than when the aircraft were at a civilian airport. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Bulgarian decision‑makers must bear responsibility for hosting a U.S. aerial refuelling aircraft. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Iran says the decision is not isolated and reflects a pattern of supporting U.S. operations against Iran. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs · +8 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Iran issued a warning to Bulgaria over the United States using Bulgarian military bases. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs
[● 13 SOURCES] Local residents protested the relocation, fearing the area could become a target amid regional tensions. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Iran issued its third warning to Bulgaria over the presence of U.S. military aircraft. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev for supporting the deployment of U.S. aircraft. skopje1.mk · www.euronews.com · hu.euronews.com · pt.euronews.com · www.sd.rs · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Bulgaria’s parliament approved moving U.S. KC‑135 tanker aircraft and about 250 troops to the Bezmer military air base. skopje1.mk · dziennik-polityczny.com · businessam.be · fr.businessam.be · kumanovskimuabeti.mk · +8 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Local residents protested the relocation, fearing the Bezmer base could become a potential target. vevesti.bg · dziennik-polityczny.com · businessam.be · fr.businessam.be · www.euronews.com · +3 more
[● 18 SOURCES] It is Iran’s third warning to Bulgaria over the US aircraft deployment. racin.mk · skopje1.mk · trafficnews.bg · vevesti.bg · www.actualno.com · +13 more
[● 18 SOURCES] US President Donald Trump publicly thanked Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev for supporting the US aircraft deployment. racin.mk · skopje1.mk · trafficnews.bg · vevesti.bg · www.actualno.com · +13 more