Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ defence ministry is taking “all the necessary measures” following strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said on Saturday.
Defence ministry response
Palmas told the Cyprus News Agency: “We are taking all the necessary measures foreseen in such situations.”
Iranian designations and EU decision
His comments follow the Iranian government’s decision last week to declare Cyprus’ air force and navy terrorist organisations, as part of a move in which Iran designated the air force and navy of every European Union member state as terrorist organisations.
Iran said the designations were in retaliation for the EU’s decision to declare Iran’s Islamic revolutionary guard a terrorist organisation.
EU adoption and Cyprus chairmanship
The EU designated the Islamic revolutionary guard as a terrorist organisation earlier this month, with the Council of the EU, chaired by Cyprus for the first half of this year, formally adopting the designation.
European Parliament debate and vote
During the European Parliament debate earlier this month, Cypriot MEP Geadis Geadi of Elam said that “the barrage of ballistic missiles that hit Israel [was] visible from Cyprus” last year.
He said: “This problematic situation posed a threat not only to the Iranian people, but to the entire region, Europe, and western civilisation more broadly.”
The following day, the European Parliament voted on a resolution condemning the Iranian government, with 524 MEPs voting in favour, three against, and four abstaining.
All six Cypriot MEPs—Loucas Fourlas and Michalis Hadjipantela of Disy, Giorgos Georgiou of Akel, Costas Mavrides of Disy, independent Fidias Panayiotou, and Geadi—voted in favour.
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