Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov declared that Iran executed a sophisticated hybrid operation against the country, asserting it was aided by domestic politicians who stoked public fear over regional tensions. The statements preceded an emergency parliamentary committee meeting addressing national security and the recent departure of U.S. tanker aircraft from Bezmer Air Base.
Minister Accuses Politicians of Aiding Iranian Hybrid Operation
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov delivered sharp criticism ahead of an emergency parliamentary Defense Committee session, arguing that Tehran successfully executed a very good hybrid operation with the unintentional or deliberate assistance of local political figures.
Stoyanov argued that every irresponsible statement claiming Bulgaria had been drawn directly into a war with Iran functioned as a successful component of foreign interference designed to amplify public anxiety. It is not necessary for them to be direct participants or to have stated it, but every statement from them about how Bulgaria is involved in a war with Iran leads to exactly that result: a successful hybrid operation from the Iranian side, he explained, as reported by 24chasa.
“We see what the result is – this operation will continue. This must be viewed much more seriously in this regard, and there must be much greater responsibility among Bulgarian politicians when they irresponsibly comment on such positions from the Iranian side”
Dimitar Stoyanov, Defense Minister
Political Fallout and Opposition Demands for Transparency
The defense chief’s remarks arrived amid intense domestic friction regarding national security. Opposition figures from We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria accused the governing authorities of passivity following foreign media reports that Tehran was evaluating potential security risks connected to Bulgarian installations. At the same time, critics targeted President Iliana Iotova for not convening the Consultative Council on National Security, a step also publicly demanded by GERB leader Boyko Borisov, who cited warnings from Austrian intelligence agencies regarding potential threats from Iran.
During the emergency committee hearing, opposition lawmakers pressed the minister to substantiate his claims with concrete evidence. Ivaylo Mirchev of Democratic Bulgaria maintained that if security services held intelligence proving politicians participated in hybrid attacks, those files belonged before parliament and prosecutors, while Georgi Georgiev of GERB urged the minister to explicitly name the opposition parties implicated in such serious accusations.
Meanwhile, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov argued that the cabinet’s policies endangered national sovereignty and pulled the country into foreign disputes. Refusing to disclose specific intelligence details in public, Stoyanov maintained that sensitive operational data could not be openly shared.
Status of American Tanker Aircraft at Bezmer Air Base
Addressing questions surrounding military infrastructure, Stoyanov clarified the timeline and administrative status of U.S. military personnel and aircraft stationed at Bezmer Air Base. Parliament had initially authorized the deployment through October following an urgent diplomatic note from Washington submitted on July 17, which requested room for up to eight tanker aircraft and 250 personnel to support logistics operations in the Middle East. Ultimately, only two aircraft arrived.
The aircraft formally departed Bezmer Air Base on August 22. Dismissing speculation that the pullout stemmed from inadequate security or sudden panic, the defense minister insisted the withdrawal followed a pre-arranged schedule.
There is a rhythm to the operation and this rhythm is being respected.
Tehran’s Position and Regional Strakes
The defense ministry’s announcements coincided with official statements from Tehran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghai confirmed during a weekly briefing that Iran had received formal notice regarding the departure of the American tanker aircraft from Bulgaria. Baghai stated that while Iran harbored no animosity toward the Bulgarian population, Tehran considered the provision of military bases and equipment for hostile operations as direct participation in aggression against the Islamic Republic.
According to international reporting, Iranian officials maintained that no nation needed to fear Tehran unless it offered its territory and infrastructure as a launching pad for attacks, reserving the sovereign right to respond against any origin point of an assault. Bulgarian authorities emphasized that throughout their deployment, the U.S. aircraft conducted solely training flights over allied territory and engaged in no missions directed southward, leaving the country without direct indicators of an imminent military threat.
