30/07/2026
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30/07/2026
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TEHRAN, Jul 30: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday protested Bulgaria’s decision to allow US military aircraft to use its territory in support of military operations against Tehran, calling the move unacceptable and a violation of international law.
According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Araghchi raised the issue during a phone call with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova, during which he also discussed regional developments, what Tehran described as continued US “aggression,” and Washington’s role in escalating tensions across West Asia.
“The Bulgarian government’s approval of a US request to deploy military aircraft at Bezmer Air Base in support of military operations is, in our view, condemnable, unacceptable and inconsistent with the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries,” Araghchi said.
The Iranian foreign minister urged Sofia to “urgently reconsider” the decision.
Araghchi also argued that allowing a foreign military to use a country’s territory to carry out attacks against another state could itself amount to an act of aggression.
“Allowing one state’s territory to be used by another state to commit an act of aggression against a third state constitutes an act of aggression,” he said, citing Article 3 of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, which addresses the definition of aggression.
The dispute follows a decision by Bulgaria’s parliament on Wednesday to authorize the deployment of up to eight US Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft and as many as 250 US military personnel at Bezmer Air Base.
The authorization covers the period from July 24 through October 1 and is intended to support US military operations in the Middle East.
Iran has repeatedly condemned US military operations in the region and has accused Washington of escalating the conflict, while Tehran has warned countries against allowing their territory or military facilities to be used in operations targeting Iran.
