Iran has warned Bulgaria that it will be considered a “partner in aggression and war crimes” if it allows the United States to use its territory for military operations against the Islamic Republic, amid reports that Washington is seeking to deploy aerial refueling aircraft to the country.

The warning came after Bulgaria’s parliamentary defense committee approved advancing a proposal that would allow up to eight U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft and hundreds of American personnel to be stationed at a Bulgarian air base as part of U.S. contingency planning for a possible renewed conflict with Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei issued the warning in comments carried by the state-run IRNA news agency. Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said no final decision has been made, stressing that the proposal remains under review and that military intelligence has identified risks but no direct threat to Bulgaria’s national security.

The proposal has sparked political debate in Bulgaria, with the pro-Russian opposition arguing it would make the country an active participant in the conflict. Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry responded by insisting the country is not taking hostile action against Iran and said no military operations in the Middle East would be conducted from Bulgarian territory, while calling for an immediate ceasefire and renewed diplomatic negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)