site.btaPresidential Administration Calls for End of Military Conflict in Middle East and Return to Diplomacy

The presidential administration is monitoring developments in the Middle East with concern and alarm, the presidential press secretariat said on Saturday night. The institution said it joins international efforts to end the military conflict and to return to the negotiating table. The institution also called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.

According to the presidential institution, the danger of escalation of the conflict is great and affects the entire Middle East. The press release reads: "The president [Iliana Iotova], in her capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is in constant contact with the relevant Bulgarian institutions and security bodies, regularly receives the necessary reports and proposals, and, depending on how the situation develops, is taking and will take appropriate action in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Bulgaria."

On Saturday morning, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the US are jointly striking Iran. In response, Iran launched a missile attack against the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as well as against Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and the UAE.

In the Council of Ministers, Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov convened a meeting of the Security Council. After the meeting, representatives of the caretaker government stated that Bulgaria is not a direct target for Iran and that there is no immediate military threat to the country.