The Iranian ambassador to Bulgaria, Ali Reza Irvash, stated on March 6, 2026, that there is no direct threat or risk to Bulgaria, even if U.S. NATO aircraft remain stationed at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport. The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions following Iranian rocket attacks that reached neighboring Turkey, raising concerns within Bulgaria.
Responding to a question about whether Iran considers Bulgaria a target and its concerns regarding aircraft at the Sofia airport, Ambassador Irvash said, “At the moment, the Bulgarian people are worried about the presence of these planes in Sofia. What we have is not the war that the Bulgarian people are waging… They know very well that war is not a good thing. And at the moment, an unequal battle is being fought between some and others.”
“The absence of these aircraft here would certainly remove the anxieties of the Bulgarian people,” Irvash added, according to Bulgaria ON AIR.
The ambassador explained he is attempting to understand the concerns of Bulgarians and convey them to his government to avoid any misunderstanding that the Bulgarian people are complicit in any conflict. “At the moment, there is no such feeling… I am sure that public pressure will lead to the removal of these planes from here, and the Bulgarian people will not experience that they are complicit in the bloodshed against the Iranian people,” he stated.
Irvash was firm in his assertion that Iran will not yield to pressure from Israel and the United States. He emphasized that the goal is not to initiate war, but to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. This statement underscores Iran’s stated preference for de-escalation despite recent military actions.
“From the very beginning, our attacks have not been directed at neighboring countries and their people. Our attacks were directed at American bases located in those countries. It is natural that when you are attacked by one country, you respond to those attacks. We have always expressed regret that these bases are located on the territory of our old friends and brotherly peoples,” Irvash concluded.
