‘All the measures that have been taken are preventive and based on protocol. Greece does not participate and is not involved in any way in the operation against Iran,’ Zohiou said.

Referring to Greece’s military presence in Cyprus, she stated that the deployment is ‘purely defensive in nature’ and does not constitute involvement in the war.

‘We do not consider that there is a major security issue, but we express our solidarity at any time and in any way necessary,’ she said.

Call for de-escalation

The spokesperson said Greece is closely monitoring developments in Iran and the wider Middle East and expressed concern about the situation in the region.

‘We call on all parties to immediately de-escalate and exercise restraint in order to avoid a regional flare-up, with potentially serious consequences for international peace and security,’ she said.

Zohiou added that Greece supports full respect for international law, including the United Nations Charter, and argued that sustainable solutions to regional security challenges can only be achieved through diplomacy and negotiations.

During the briefing, she also referred to concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, stating that Greece has repeatedly expressed its position on the issue.

‘Full compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency are essential,’ she said, adding that oversight of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programmes is widely regarded as a prerequisite for regional stability.

Maritime security concerns

The foreign ministry also emphasised the importance of maritime security in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, warning against any actions that could disrupt international shipping.

‘We call on all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardise freedom of navigation, the safety of seafarers and global supply chains, in violation of the international law of the sea,’ Zohiou said.

She also stated that the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law remain priorities.

Foreign policy council meeting

Zohiou confirmed that foreign minister George Gerapetritis remains in contact with partners and allies in the region. When asked about his recent meeting with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, she said the two discussed developments in the Middle East but did not address any operational timetable related to Iran.

The National Council for Foreign Policy is scheduled to meet on Wednesday at 1pm under the chairmanship of Gerapetritis to discuss developments in the Middle East.

The spokesperson also noted that several thousand requests for the repatriation of Greek citizens from the Middle East have been submitted, while fewer than 100 Greek nationals are currently in Iran and no repatriation requests have been made from there so far.

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