Iran warns Bulgaria over US use of its military bases
Iran’s foreign ministry issued a fresh warning to Bulgaria, marking the third such notice, after Sofia allowed the United States to use Bulgarian military bases for aerial refuelling. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei posted on social media that Bulgarian decision‑makers must bear responsibility for the "dangerous decision" to host U.S. aircraft and said the move was not isolated, citing previous instances that supported U.S. operations against Iran.
The warning came days after former U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Truth Social for Bulgaria’s support of the U.S. deployment. Bulgaria’s defence minister, Dimitar Stoyanov, told the public that the risk of an Iranian missile attack remains limited and is lower than when U.S. planes were stationed at a civilian airport. Earlier in the week the Bulgarian parliament approved moving the U.S. aircraft to the Bezmer military air base, a decision that sparked protests from local residents who fear the area could become a target amid rising regional tensions.
Entities: Dimitar Stoyanov · Esmaeil Baghaei · Islamic Republic of Iran · Republic of Bulgaria · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Former U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Truth Social for Bulgaria’s support of the U.S. base deployment. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the risk of an Iranian missile attack is limited and lower than when U.S. aircraft were at a civilian airport. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Bulgarian parliament approved relocating the U.S. aircraft to the Bezmer military air base. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Local residents protested the relocation, fearing the area could become a target amid rising regional tensions. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Bulgarian decision‑makers must bear responsibility for hosting U.S. aerial refuelling aircraft. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Iran claims the decision is not isolated and that similar past decisions supported U.S. operations against Iran. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] This is the third warning Iran has issued to Bulgaria about U.S. aircraft. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Iran issued a warning to Bulgaria over the United States using Bulgarian military bases. (all articles)