Iran Pressures Sofia Over U.S. Military Presence at Bezmer Air Base

During a phone call with Bulgarian counterpart Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Araqchi argued that the deployment of U.S. assets could enable hostile actions against Iran, characterizing the move as a departure from the historical ties between the two nations. This pressure aligns with broader regional efforts, including similar warnings directed at Cyprus regarding the use of its territory for foreign military operations.

Despite these objections, the Bulgarian parliament has already authorized the deployment of up to eight U.S. KC-135 tanker aircraft and approximately 250 personnel. Sofia has countered the diplomatic heat by clarifying that the agreement strictly prohibits the stationing of offensive weaponry. Bulgarian officials maintain that the arrangement does not implicate the country in active military operations, framing the presence of the tanker aircraft as a localized logistical support function rather than a combat posture.