Bulgaria receives assurance from Iran that it is not considered a target

Bulgaria has received assurances from Iran that it faces no danger and is not considered a target, said caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Nadezhda Neynsky in an interview with bTV. This happened at the beginning of the military conflict during a meeting at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, where the charge d’affaires of the Bulgarian embassy explained Bulgaria’s position.

• PM: Bulgaria is not involved in the actions of Israel and USA against Iran

Nadezhda Neynsky emphasized that Bulgaria and NATO are not parties to the conflict and that there is no direct threat to the country.

Regarding air and missile defense, Bulgaria relies heavily on its allies within NATO. ''For a missile to travel from Iran to Bulgaria, it would have to cross the entire territory of Türkiye. Türkiye’s air and missile defense protects Bulgaria from missiles'', Minister Neynsky said. According to her, Bulgaria does not have missile defense, but it does possess air defense and anti-drone systems.

• Bulgarian territory is not used to support the US operation in Iran

• Foreign Ministry: Bulgaria condemns Iran’s attacks on its neighbours

More than 2,600 Bulgarian citizens have been evacuated from the Middle East so far, and their number is expected to rise to just over 3,000, Nedezhda Neynsky added.

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov