Balgarianovinite.com Iran’s leadership fully understands that the US aircraft to be deployed at Bezmer Air Base are not intended for combat missions under any circumstances, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists in Sofia on Tuesday. “We have long-standing relations with Iran based on cooperation, mutual trust and friendship,” Radev said, adding that he does not expect any real deterioration in bilateral relations.
On July 22, Bulgaria’s National Assembly authorized the deployment in Bulgaria of up to eight KC-135 military aircraft of the US Armed Forces, together with their crews, up to 250 military personnel carrying personal weapons and ammunition, and airport support equipment. The aircraft will provide support for US operations in the Middle East and will be stationed at Bezmer Air Base from July 24 to October 1. The proposal was submitted by the Council of Ministers.
In his remarks on Tuesday, the prime minister said he cannot specify exactly when the US aircraft will arrive, but noted that the necessary preparations have been completed.
“If it had not been for our government, 15 aerial refuelling aircraft would still be stationed at Sofia Airport until October. Now there may be aerial refuelling aircraft at a military air base, where they belong, and in numbers far smaller than 15,” Radev said.
Asked how seriously he views Iran’s statement that “the Bulgarian authorities must bear responsibility for the dangerous decision to host US aircraft”, Radev replied: “Just as seriously as the previous statement, when the aircraft were stationed at Sofia Airport.”
Last week, residents of the village of Bezmer and nearby settlements, including the regional capital Yambol, staged protests against the deployment of the US aircraft. Demonstrators gathered on the road linking the village to the military air base. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and Youth and Sports Minister Encho Keryazov met mayors from municipalities and settlements across Yambol Region at the regional administration building to discuss the issue.
In his comments on Tuesday, the prime minister also said the government continues to work towards a US visa waiver for Bulgarian travellers, and he is confident a solution will be found in the near future.
Radev was speaking after a meeting of the Executive Council of Progressive Bulgaria, at which the party decided to endorse President Iliana Iotova’s candidacy for president in the upcoming election this autumn. Iotova was Radev’s vice president until he left the post of president to run in the parliamentary elections on April 19. PM Radev Says Iran Understands that Bezmer Deployment Is Non-Combat Mission 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-28 14:06:42 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law