Foreign Minister Petrova tells Iran U.S. aircraft do not signal policy shift

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova told her Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Wednesday that the stationing of U.S. aerial refuelling aircraft at Bulgaria's Bezmer Air Base does not represent a change in Bulgaria's policy towards Iran, according to the Foreign Ministry.

During a telephone conversation, Petrova said Bulgaria remained committed to good relations with Iran based on mutual trust and longstanding cooperation. The two ministers also expressed readiness to continue active bilateral dialogue.

• Iran says stationing of U.S. aircraft in Bulgaria is a dangerous decision

Referring to the U.S. aircraft at Bezmer, Petrova said Bulgaria's territory would not be used for any direct military operations related to the conflict in the Middle East.

She said parliament had approved the deployment following an official U.S. request, in line with Bulgaria's commitments to Washington, the constitution and Bulgarian law, and that the decision did not represent a change in Bulgaria's policy towards Iran.

• Prime Minister Rumen Radev does not expect ties with Iran to deteriorate

Editor: Miglena Ivanova