We see that there are such people who support Iran, so a blow will be sought where the weakest link is. And if it is judged to be Bulgaria, a diplomatic mission may be struck, warned the former director of the State Security Agency Tsvetlin Yovchev in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio.
"The terrorist act in Sarafovo was committed by people who entered from outside through various borders and their behavior and actions were extremely professional. Maybe the explosion did not go according to plan and that's why we had something to grab onto," he recalled.
In the program Nedelya 150, Yovchev commented on the military conflict in Iran, Bulgaria's national security, the measures taken, as well as the case of "Petrohan – Okolchitsa" with the six victims and the murdered child.
"In principle, the National Security Agency has control over potential radicalizing elements in our society and I hope that this control is strengthened. At this point, everyone who is suspected of having connections should be placed under increased surveillance. If the risk of their activities is considered high, they should be expelled. Those connected with Iran and its proxies - Hamas and Hezbollah - should be under control. The second, which is, all diplomatic missions related to the USA and Israel, as well as places where such citizens reside, must be placed under enhanced protection and security. Enhanced protection is also necessary for critical infrastructure - civil and in the field of energy", warned Tsvetlin Yovchev.
According to him, the statement that there is no direct threat to Bulgaria is not absolutely true:
"The fact that a day or two after the Security Council's opinion on the Council of Ministers there were calls to convene again, because there was a change in the situation. We must say that the probability of a direct attack on Bulgaria is very small. If such a threat appears, it will be episodic, incidental, and from now on, these measures that have been taken - to turn to neighboring countries to relocate systems along our borders, are the only possible thing we can do."
"I am rather inclined to accept the thesis that these were PR claims that the Iranian nuclear program has been nullified and the possibilities for uranium enrichment are zero. The fact that Iran did not stop the uranium enrichment program and the development of ballistic missiles suggests that this threat still exists. From now on, the war creates a number of threats to our national security and we must be aware of them. It seems to me that this Security Council was conducted a little lightly. Clear indicators should have been identified, which of the scenarios is already underway, and measures should have been taken. The threats are not only in the military and economic fields. There are also threats from the perspective of the current terrorist threat - you saw, an improvised explosive device in front of the US embassy in Oslo. I think that there will be such attacks in other countries in Europe, too," explained Tsvetlin Yovchev.
His prediction for the military conflict in Iran is that if it lasts more than 4 - 5 weeks, this is an indicator that Iran's resistance will continue for a long time, which permanently raises oil prices.
"It is possible that if the conflict lasts a long time, China will also have an interest and directly intervene in the conflict. The second process is whether Iran will attack or continue to shell oil production facilities in neighboring countries, as well as the closed Strait of Hormuz. The most important thing is the dynamics of internal processes in Iran. The best scenario is an internal coup or a reformist majority taking power and preserving the institutions and functioning of the state, and there will be no internal disintegration. It seems to me that we are moving towards other options - the collapse of the statehood, a civil war or the military from the Revolutionary Guard taking power", commented Yovchev.
Regarding the case of "Petrokhan – Okolchitsa", the former head of the National Security Agency reminded that he had expressed doubts regarding the official activities of Ivaylo Kalushev's group and that it does not match their mode of action and the practices they apply - weapons, video surveillance, electronic security systems.
"These profiles do not match environmentalists and have aggressive behavior towards everyone who can witness what is happening in this hut. The proximity to the border may be related to the incident with 6 victims and the murder of a child, but it may not be. But this will be established with good operational work. "People's relationships and financial flows need to be checked, and they will be clarified," he commented.
For him, the case of "Petrohan – Okolchitsa" shows the diagnosis of our society – spiritual impoverishment and he hopes that this process from crisis to crisis can give rise to a healing process.