Nicosia, Cyprus. Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, said Cyprus and the British bases are not considered targets in Iran’s ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. He also called on Cyprus to take a more active diplomatic role as it holds the EU council presidency.
Comments on Cyprus and the British bases
In an interview with the Cyprus Mail, Salarian said there was “no sign of any provocation” from Cyprus or the British bases, adding that Iran had “no report that the bases carried out any act of aggression against Iran.”
He said Iranian assessments align with public statements by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the bases are not being used offensively, and concluded that “there is thus no justification to consider them a target.”
Pressed on whether the British bases could feature in Iranian retaliatory measures, Salarian said “it is indeed not a target,” and that Iran does not view them as being involved “in any capacity” in the conflict, which he said began on February 28 with coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.
Earlier reports and UK response
Salarian’s remarks followed earlier reports that an Iranian missile intercepted over northern Lebanon may have been aimed at British military installations in Cyprus.
The United Kingdom’s defence ministry rejected those claims, saying its intelligence “does not suggest the missile in question was aimed at the bases,” and declined to comment on whether a US naval asset may have been involved in the interception.
Drone incident at RAF Akrotiri
Salarian also addressed an earlier incident in which a drone struck an aircraft hangar at RAF Akrotiri.
He said Iran’s foreign ministry “confirms that no such drone was fired from Iran,” adding that Tehran has not investigated the case in detail due to pressures from the ongoing war.
He did not rule out “the possibility of a false flag operation,” suggesting other actors could have been responsible.
Asked whether the drone could have originated from Hezbollah, he said he “could not confirm” this and said “Hezbollah is its own independent entity.”
What role do you think Cyprus should play diplomatically as it holds the EU council presidency?
