Iran warns Cyprus and Bulgaria over hosting US military bases

Iran warned today, Thursday, Cyprus and Bulgaria against allowing the United States to use military bases on their territory for potential attacks against the Islamic Republic. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified in separate conversations with his counterparts in both countries that any state that places its territory at the disposal of a foreign power for action against Iran will be considered as participating in aggression and will bear responsibility for the consequences.

In a phone call with Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Araghchi emphasized the need to prevent foreign forces from using the British military bases on the island for attacks against Iran. According to a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Araghchi said that making a country's territory available for the hostile use of another country constitutes participation in an act of aggression.

Kombos replied that the government of Cyprus had received guarantees from Britain that the British bases on the island would not be used for operations against any country, including Iran. There are two sovereign British bases operating in Cyprus, including the Akrotiri airbase.

In a separate conversation with Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chomakova, Araghchi demanded that Sofia reconsider its decision to allow American military aircraft to use the Bezmer base for activities in the Middle East. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement, Araghchi said that Iran expects the Bulgarian government to urgently review the decision.

"Iran will not hesitate to defend its national interests and its security against any aggression or hostile action," warned Araghchi. According to him, any party that participates in any way in an action against Iran will bear responsibility for the results.

Tensions with Sofia increased after the Bulgarian parliament approved a government proposal earlier this month allowing the American military to use the Bezmer airbase to support its activities in the Middle East. Bulgaria claimed that it has no intention of participating in a war against Iran.

The warnings to Cyprus and Bulgaria join similar threats issued by Tehran toward Arab countries in the Gulf, after Iran claimed that they allow the United States to use military bases on their territory for attacks against it.