site.btaOpposition Forces Criticize Radev Cabinet over Foreign Policy Concerning Iran, Call for Security Council Meeting

Opposition parliamentary groups voiced concern on Friday over Bulgaria’s foreign policy surrounding the decision to temporarily allow the allied US forces to use Bezmer Air Base, which was followed by a stern response by the West Asian country.

On Thursday, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova held a phone conversation with her Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. She stressed that no direct military action related to the conflict in the Middle East would be carried out from Bulgarian territory, while Araghchi voiced Iran’s protest against the deployment, which he called "unacceptable and contrary to the traditional and friendly relations between the two countries.”

On Friday, GERB-UDF MP Daniel Mitov read a declaration on behalf of his parliamentary group which states that “in recent days, Bulgaria has found itself drawn into a diplomatic sequence that has called into question the manner and ability of the Bulgarian State to defend its own decisions.” According to Mitov, the Iranian Ambassador to Bulgaria should have been summoned to the Foreign Ministry and asked to clearly explain whether the statements by Iranian representatives constituted a threat against Bulgaria, Bulgarian citizens, politicians or sites on Bulgarian territory. "Instead of Bulgaria first seeking explanations for the warnings that were issued, it has found itself in the position of having to justify its own decisions. This is precisely what creates an impression of weakness, regardless of the actual intentions of Bulgarian diplomacy," the declaration said.

Democratic Bulgaria urged President Iliana Iotova to convene the Consultative Council for National Security. DB MP Bozhidar Bozhanov told journalists that "the whole row over Iran" is the result of Prime Minister Rumen Radev's long-standing views, which he expressed in his former capacity as president and then during his parliamentary election campaign earlier this year. Bozhanov said that Radev had fuelled public fears over "imaginary risks" related to Bulgaria's fighter aircraft, Russia's war against Ukraine and Bulgaria's support for Ukraine. "By sowing fear, he has now fallen into his own trap," he  added. Commenting on remarks made by Iran's Foreign Minister during a conversation with his Bulgarian counterpart, Bozhanov said it is for the intelligence services and the Foreign Ministry to determine whether they amount to a threat.

Vazrazhdane called for a meeting of the Security Council under the Council of Ministers and a meeting of Parliament's Deputy Chairpersons and the Floor Leaders over the phone conversation between the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Iran. "We will demand that Bulgaria, through its government, clearly explain to Bulgarian citizens whether there is a danger or not,” Vazrazhdane Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov told journalists in Parliament's lobby. He said Vazrazhdane would also demand an investigation into Velislava Petrova's activities and whether she has links to foreign intelligence services, specifically the UK's MI6. According to him, the Consultative Council for National Security has proven to be a "useless talking shop" that only issues empty declarations. The Vazrazhdane leader said the Foreign Minister should resign.

On July 22, Bulgaria's National Assembly authorized the deployment in Bulgaria of up to eight KC-135 military aircraft of the US Armed Forces, together with their crews, up to 250 military personnel carrying personal weapons and ammunition, and airport support equipment. The aircraft will provide support for US operations in the Middle East and will be stationed at Bezmer Air Base from July 24 to October 1. The proposal was submitted by the Council of Ministers.