Iran warns Bulgaria against hosting US military aircraft

AI digestMimile.ai EditorialJuly 21, 2026 at 08:27 PM

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Iran warned Bulgaria on Monday against allowing US military aircraft to use its territory for operations against Tehran. The warning follows Bulgaria's decision to host US aircraft as part of NATO deployments.

The Warning

Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Bulgarian charge d'affaires in Tehran to deliver the protest, according to state media. The ministry said any cooperation with the US military would be considered a hostile act. Bulgaria is a NATO member and has hosted allied forces since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Bulgaria's Decision

Bulgaria agreed last week to station US aircraft at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, about 120 km east of Sofia. The base is used for NATO air policing missions over the Black Sea. The US has increased its military presence in Eastern Europe since 2022, with rotational deployments in Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states.

What's Next

Bulgaria's foreign ministry is expected to respond to the Iranian protest in the coming days. It remains unclear whether Sofia will alter its stance on hosting US aircraft amid the diplomatic pressure.

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Iran warns Bulgaria against hosting US military aircraft

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Iran warns Bulgaria against hosting US military aircraft

The Warning

Bulgaria's Decision

What's Next

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