Bulgaria is becoming an involuntary participant in the war between the United States and Iran due to the presence of American military aircraft on our territory. This was warned by former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lyubomir Kyuchukov against the backdrop of the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the expiring ultimatum of US President Donald Trump to Tehran.
Tensions along the Washington - Tehran axis are reaching critical levels after Donald Trump threatened to destroy key Iranian infrastructure "overnight" if the proposed 45-day ceasefire is not accepted and the Strait of Hormuz is not opened. According to Kyuchukov, however, the American president is ignoring the fact that Iran has a key voice in the ceasefire.
"This is another final ultimatum that we hear. The big problem is that war has become an everyday occurrence," said Lyubomir Kyuchukov, quoted by "Bulgaria ON AIR".
The expert points out that Tehran is already setting its own conditions for de-escalation, including final guarantees for peace, compensation for transit through the strait and the complete withdrawal of American bases and troops from the region. Kyuchukov warns that a possible large-scale ground operation poses a serious risk of long-term stagnation of the American army, with no real prospects for regime change in the Islamic Republic. According to him, the "red lines" that existed until recently in international relations are categorically interrupted by routine strikes on objects on Iranian territory.
A particular cause for concern is the indirect involvement of Bulgaria in the hostilities. According to the former diplomat, our country receives official notes from Tehran, which clearly indicate that our country is positioning itself as a participant in the conflict. The reason is the presence of American aircraft at the airport in Sofia.
Despite the official position of the Bulgarian institutions that the machines are here only for training missions and do not participate in direct military operations, Kyuchukov expresses serious doubts about their real logistical function.
"Truths are being declared that circumvent the truths", the analyst commented. According to him, it is clear that the aircraft based in our country are used to refuel American combat aircraft outside Bulgarian airspace.
The former deputy minister emphasizes that Bulgaria lacks adequate political will to deal with the crisis and our country is moving without a clear direction. He notes a discrepancy between Bulgarian diplomacy and the pan-European tone.
"Unlike Europe, which is already gradually changing its position to an anti-war position, Bulgaria continues to insist on an end to the strikes by Iran, without mentioning at all the beginning of the war and the American strikes," added Kyuchukov.
He also noted that the current war has nothing to do with the Alliance and the circulation of the thesis that a NATO exercise is being conducted is a false statement. According to the expert, trust in the United States on the international stage continues to decline, which is leading to a tangible rift in the partnership relations between Washington and the Old Continent.