Bulgaria’s parliament approved the temporary parking of US refueling aircraft at the Bezmer military base, despite Iranian warnings that such a move would amount to complicity in “an attack and war crimes,” a characterization Sofia has rejected.

Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told lawmakers that no offensive weapons systems of any kind will be deployed on Bulgarian territory, and said their temporary presence doesn’t make Bulgaria party to any military action. He said Washington had pledged to minimize risks tied to Bulgaria’s security. Five mayors from towns around Bezmer, roughly 260 kilometers southeast of Sofia, filed objections over safety concerns.

The government’s proposal to allow up to eight KC-135 aircraft to park on Bulgarian soil, an EU and NATO member, passed 136 to 13 with 2 abstentions. Stoyanov said Washington had requested the deployment of the aircraft and up to 250 personnel from July 24 through October 1, under an existing agreement on shared use of military facilities. He added that Bulgaria isn’t taking hostile action against any other country and is simply fulfilling its treaty obligations to the US.

Iran’s threats

The plan drew a reaction Tuesday from Tehran, where foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei objected to the US being allowed to use Bulgarian territory for military operations against Iran, saying this would make Sofia “an accomplice of the aggressors and lawbreakers.”