Iran has renewed its warning to European countries against allowing their territories to be used for United States military operations, urging Bulgaria and Cyprus to prevent their military facilities from supporting any action against Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi conveyed the warning during separate telephone conversations with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova-Chamova, and Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.
During his discussion with the Bulgarian minister, Araqchi urged Sofia to reconsider its decision to allow the temporary deployment of US military aircraft at Bezmer Air Base.
He argued that granting the United States access to the base to support military operations amounted to facilitating aggression against Iran and was inconsistent with the traditionally friendly relations between Tehran and Sofia.
Araqchi also reminded Bulgarian authorities that Iran has repeatedly warned countries permitting their territories to be used for military operations against it could face consequences.
In his conversation with Cyprus’ foreign minister, the Iranian diplomat stressed the need to ensure that foreign military bases on the island are not used to launch or support attacks against Iran.
Last week, Bulgaria’s parliament approved the temporary deployment of up to eight US KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft and as many as 250 military personnel at Bezmer Air Base despite objections from Tehran.
The Bulgarian government has insisted that no offensive weapons will be stationed at the base and maintained that the deployment does not make the country a participant in military operations.
Cyprus hosts two British sovereign military bases, including RAF Akrotiri, which was struck by an Iranian drone in March, days after Israel and the United States launched military strikes on Iran.
Earlier in the conflict, Britain approved a US request to use British military facilities for defensive operations targeting Iranian missile launchers and storage sites.
However, London later clarified that RAF Akrotiri would not be used under that specific arrangement.
The broader defence cooperation between Britain and the United States has since been maintained by the government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a move that prompted Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to warn Britain against facilitating US military operations against the Islamic Republic.
The latest diplomatic exchanges underscore Tehran’s growing efforts to discourage countries from providing logistical or military support to US operations as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.
