Bulgaria removes US tankers after Iran threat as Tehran shows off underground missile plant

Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov announced on Saturday that two U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft, stationed at Bezmer Air Base since July 22, have left the country. The move follows a Financial Times report suggesting that Iran was considering targeting U.S. assets in southeastern Europe, specifically Bulgaria and Cyprus, should military tensions with Washington escalate. Sofia maintained that the aircraft were deployed solely for training missions in allied airspace and were not involved in operations against Iran.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media aired footage of the new Chief of Staff, Ali Abdollahi, visiting an underground ballistic missile production facility. Iranian military officials claimed the plant continues to produce equipment with improved quality and quantity despite sanctions and strikes. Abdollahi warned that Tehran would deliver a "crushing and destructive" response to any threats or miscalculations by the enemy.

Diplomatically, efforts to revive indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. persist. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, regarding a return to the diplomatic track and security in the Strait of Hormuz. However, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that there has been no breakthrough, asserting that Iran is not yet ready to make the "right deal."

The Trump administration remains focused on a strategy of intensified economic pressure. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to outline new economic measures on Monday, which are anticipated to include secondary sanctions on countries continuing to trade with Iran. Within Iran, President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for an end to the war with dignity, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf acknowledged the economic strain facing the Iranian public.