Iran has warned Cyprus and Bulgaria against allowing the United States to use military facilities on their territory to launch potential attacks against the Islamic Republic, cautioning that any country facilitating such operations would share responsibility for the consequences.
During a telephone conversation with Cyprus’ Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed “the necessity of preventing foreign military bases located in Cyprus from being used by hostile forces to carry out acts of aggression against Iran.”
Araghchi argued that if a country permits its territory to be used by another state for hostile military actions, it “constitutes participation in an act of aggression.”
According to a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Kombos responded by saying the Cypriot government had received assurances from the United Kingdom that the British sovereign military bases on the island would not be used to launch attacks against any country, including Iran.
In a separate phone call with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Araghchi urged Sofia to reconsider its decision to allow U.S. military aircraft to use one of its air bases in support of operations in the Middle East.
“Iran expects the Bulgarian government to urgently review its decision,” Araghchi said, warning that the Islamic Republic “will not hesitate to defend its national security and interests against any aggression or hostile act.”
He added that “any party participating in acts of aggression against Iran, in any form, will bear responsibility for the consequences.”
Earlier this month, Bulgaria’s parliament approved a government proposal authorizing the U.S. military to use an air base in the Balkan country to support operations in the Middle East.
Iran has previously accused several Gulf Arab states of allowing the United States to launch military operations against Tehran from bases located on their territory, allegations that have heightened regional tensions.
