87075 | 5 March 2026 | 12:52

Leaders of countries in the Persian Gulf call Trump and ask him to stop the war with Iran. They also call on Putin, asking him to "do something"! Who should our leaders call? Do you understand what a black, cosmic hole we are in?

Peter Vodenksi worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1978-2020). He was a Consul General in Istanbul (1990) and an Ambassador in Ankara (1991-1992), Chisinau (1995-2001), and Nicosia (2005-2009). He was twice the director of the Analytical Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and twice the Chief of Staff for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was a Colonel in the military intelligence. He was awarded the Golden Badge of Honor from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Golden Badge of Honor "For Loyal Service under the Colors" from the Ministry of Defense. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Society. He is the author of the book "Otherwise Diplomacy is a Serious Craft" (2013, new edition in 2024).

 At the moment, Iran sees us as an accomplice and a target. We need to get out of this situation as soon as possible, but, I repeat, I do not see any of our current leaders being able to do that, says Peter Vodenksi to "Epicenter.bg".

 Here are highlights from the interview:

 - Trump was warned from various directions - including from his close associates - not to take military action against Iran. The US does not have a Plan B, does not have enough missiles for prolonged military actions, and cannot secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

 - Over time, Trump seems to be losing control.

 - Trump ordered his entourage and the media to refer to the situation with Iran as a "special military operation" rather than a "war"? What a gift for Putin!

 - Ursula and Kaya - rarely can more inadequate leaders be found at such positions.

 - We can hardly speak of "unified Europe" and "unified NATO" anymore, those times are gone.

 - Bulgarian leaders, in case of need, who should they call? Trump? Putin? Do you understand what kind of black, cosmic hole we are in?

 Who will be responsible for allowing American tanker planes to use our civilian airport in Sofia to refuel American planes participating in military operations in the Middle East?

 I have the feeling that the people leading Bulgaria at the moment are like characters from a children's fairy tale - they think they can wash their hands of any responsibility and if "something happens," they will go "on the islands."

 - Ambassador Vodenki, the situation in the Middle East has escalated very quickly. The world seems trapped and on the brink of a longer-than-expected war. Were the risks underestimated before the first strikes were carried out? Are we heading towards a Third World War?

 - Things are not going well. Trump has been warned from various directions - including from his own close associates - not to take military action against Iran. Even a top American general resigned after learning that the decision to strike had already been made. It is said that Netanyahu convinced Trump to take action. Can you imagine, the leader of Israel has forced the US president to do something that the US was not ready for! And now Israel, seeing that the war with Iran will continue, is considering using nuclear weapons (there is such information). Against the backdrop of the currently declared readiness of the leader of North Korea to provide Iran with "requested" missiles, this sounds quite apocalyptic.

 It turns out that the USA doesn't even have a plan (called a "roadmap") outlining their goals, the deadlines for achieving them, or a Plan B - if the first option fails, etc. It is now revealed that the USA does not have enough missiles for prolonged military operations, cannot secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz - which is vital for supplying the world with energy resources, cannot end the war in a matter of days - as they hoped, and are facing unexpected results.

 As for your question about World War III - optimists say we are on the brink of it, while pessimists say it has already started.

 - Our defense minister Atanas Zapryanov has admitted that the recent events have changed Bulgaria's assessment of the conflict. In the past decades, there has not been an assessment that indicated immediate danger. Where do the threats to Bulgaria come from and have the institutions' reactions been adequate so far? What, in your opinion, should be urgently undertaken?

 - In recent decades, assessments of Bulgarian institutions have indicated that there is a danger for Bulgaria, coming from Moscow (there are reports from the EU, check them if you don't believe me). Now the leaders of the countries in the Persian Gulf, where there are American bases and which have become targets of attack from Iran, are calling Trump and asking him to stop the war with Iran. At the same time, they are also calling... Putin, with a request "to do something"!

 When a need arises, who will the Bulgarian leaders call? Trump? Will he pick up the phone? Putin? What should we say to him? That the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is very important for Russia and we should not allow strikes from Iran against Bulgaria, nor give it to Turkey. Which of today's Bulgarian leaders would call Putin with such an analysis?

 Do you understand in what black, cosmic hole we are in? Why have we listened unquestionably to Rutte, Ursula and Kaya Kalas so far, without saying a word about our national interests at the NATO and EU meetings? We were scratching the scar before a decade ago to Mark Rutte, he, because of the narrow-minded interests of his country, did not let us into the Schengen, even though we were technically fully prepared. Well, Rutte got out of his post in the Netherlands, we entered Schengen. And Ursula and Kaya do not want to comment on them, rarely can they come across more inadequate leaders in such positions.

 - In addition to the stay of American planes at "Sofia" airport, permission for passing through our airspace and staying on the territory of Bulgaria by allied and foreign armed forces and facilities has been granted. It was given by the Minister of Defense, and the National Assembly was informed. Are we a target, an accomplice, Ambassador Wodenski, after these decisions?

 - Do you know, I feel like the people who are leading Bulgaria at the moment are like characters from a children's fairy tale. They fell asleep a few years ago, woke up yesterday and are now speaking the language that was spoken before they fell asleep. Without realizing the time that has passed and the changes in the world that have occurred. They condemn Iran's attacks on the surrounding American bases, but they do not say in response to what these attacks are. They say that the main threat comes from Russia, even though they do not realize that we are already part of the war in the Middle East. Currently, Iran sees us as an accomplice and a target. We need to get out of this situation as soon as possible, but, again, I don't see any of our current leaders being capable of doing this.

 - What risks to our national security would you rank as most important? Direct attack, refugee wave, skyrocketing prices?

 - I would say all three. My only hope is based on the fact that psychics/viewers say that Bulgaria will be bypassed by this catastrophe. However, as the saying goes, "God helps, but does not put the food in the barn", in our case, this, in my opinion, means that there needs to be a change in the mindset of our current leaders. A quick change, because there is not much time left.

 - A high-ranking official in Tehran stated that Iran has no intention of negotiating with the US and is prepared for a prolonged war. Who will win and who will lose if the war continues?

 - Israel and the US have begun strikes against Iran at a time when there were prospects for some progress in Iranian-American negotiations. Israel hastened to eliminate the supreme leader of Iran, hit a girls' school, and killed hundreds of students, as well as the family of the Ayatollah, including his granddaughter - a baby. How can anyone in Iran be expected to want to negotiate after such barbaric behavior?

 In classical diplomacy there is a maxim: when negotiating, one should not corner the partner/enemy, but rather leave them a door/way out of the situation with dignity. What can we expect from Iran in the situation it is in? Tehran is fighting for its survival and I expect them to use all permissible and impermissible means for this.

 - Trump claims that "the Iranians are pushing their luck" and promises assistance for tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. But his positions seem to be wavering. Is his political survival in question?

 - This year and the previous we have heard all sorts of tales from Trump. "I don't rule out the possibility of impeachment, as the process goes through different stages - partial elections in the legislative body, etc. As for the tankers in the Strait of Hormuz - insurers refuse to insure them and Iran has declared them as targets. It will be difficult for all of us.

 - Europe is not united in its position, but countries like Spain have already been punished by Trump for their position and unwillingness to provide military bases for US strikes. What choice do smaller and more dependent countries have? Like Bulgaria, for example.

 - As time goes by, Trump continues to lose ground. Will he be able to punish Spain with trade and tariffs? I don't think so. Will he be able to negotiate again on tariffs with Europe, since Spanish goods can go through other countries? I don't think so." As for the chance of Bulgaria, I repeat: a quick change is needed.
 

 - What is your assessment of the European reactions?

 - Very confused and diverse. One day they say they are ready to help the Gulf countries deal with the strikes of Iran, the next day they deny it. There are even cases where two or more sources from the same European government come out with different positions. Moreover, we can hardly talk about "united Europe" and "united NATO" anymore, that time has passed.

 - What are the ultimate goals pursued by the United States and Israel with the military strikes and are there any differences between them? Where are China's interests in the Middle East puzzle?

 - For years, Israel has been working on various lines against Iran, for various reasons, with a superficial claim that "Iran will create a nuclear weapon in a few hours, days, or weeks." This is obviously propaganda for the wider masses. The United States also has serious reasons to control the extraction and production of energy resources (we see them acting in other regions around the world), as well as to create a sort of "ring" around Russia for further action, and to block corridors for China. China is interested in the US losing resources in order to achieve its goals (which are many).

 - Moscow's reaction was sharp - there is talk of the cynicism of calls from the West for the Iranian people to take matters into their own hands, for the "imaginary Iranian threat." At the same time, Russia seems to benefit from what is happening. Right?

 - Russia called for these issues to be resolved through diplomacy, but it did not work out. Meanwhile, Russia refuses to accept the forced change of leadership in a country from outside, contrary to all the principles of international law. And the fact that the US is driving up the cost of energy resources, which are a crucial budget item for Moscow, is welcomed by Putin. Trump's gift to him!

 And one more thing, do you notice that Trump ordered his entourage and the media to not use the term "war", but instead "special military operation" when it comes to Iran? What a beauty for Putin!

 - Does the lack of a regular government and the upcoming election campaign make the situation even more unstable for us?

 - I would say that the situation in our country is scary not for anything else, but because of the lack of responsibility. Who will be held accountable for allowing our civilian airport in Sofia to be used by American tanker planes refueling American planes participating in military actions in the Middle East? Who will take responsibility for allowing the passage of foreign military vehicles through Bulgaria at the moment? Which party? Whose interim government is this? On the President, who has no say in determining its composition? On the National Assembly? Everyone thinks they have washed their hands, and if "something happens", they will go "on the islands". For decades, the Bulgarian and European-Atlantic elites have lived with the belief that they are "untouchable", that "nothing will happen to them, since nothing has happened so far". Each previous crossing of the "red line" has not led to a catastrophe, so "it is not scary". A model is formed "we can go even further". The horizon is until the next elections, no long-term perspective is considered. It is indeed frightening!