Pavlos Xanthoulis
Iran has publicly rejected claims by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides that Tehran asked Nicosia to relay messages to Israel, a denial included in a recent European External Action Service (EEAS) newsletter circulated to all 27 EU member states.
The statement from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, issued June 15, directly contradicts Christodoulides’s comments. Iran clarified that it asked Cyprus to intervene with European governments to pressure Israel to halt its attacks, not to act as a go-between with Israel.
The denial was distributed through the EEAS Crisis Response Centre’s daily bulletin, which updates member states on developments related to the Israel-Iran conflict. While the EEAS maintains neutrality and includes a disclaimer in its bulletins, the inclusion of Tehran’s statement was viewed as a significant editorial decision.
A Brussels-based EU official described the Cypriot president’s claim as unusual, noting that Iran has historically worked through more influential intermediaries such as Oman and Qatar to reach the United States. The official added that Iran’s known strategy has focused on encouraging U.S. intervention, which could in turn influence Israeli actions, something seen as beyond Cyprus’s capacity.
Iran’s request, documented on official Iranian news sites, emphasized outreach to European states rather than any direct communication with Israel. The official record of a call between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos also supports this version of events.
The EU continues to grapple with its role in the Israel-Iran conflict. A video conference of EU foreign ministers last week, initiated in part by Cyprus, yielded limited results. The group reaffirmed opposition to Iranian nuclear ambitions and endorsed continued diplomatic efforts, but offered little in the way of concrete action. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged that the bloc is currently prioritizing evacuations and the protection of European citizens in the region.
In parallel, tensions are rising over Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Information leaked in Brussels suggests the EEAS is considering whether Israel has violated Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to its blockade of Gaza and the alleged use of starvation as a method of warfare. However, EU officials say no immediate decision is expected on suspending the agreement.
Seventeen member states, led by the Netherlands, have backed a formal evaluation of Israel’s compliance with the agreement. Nine countries, including Cyprus, have opposed such a move, while one state abstained. Calls for suspension have also grown louder within the European Parliament, with support from groups such as the Socialists and Democrats, the Greens, and the European Left, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
This article has been translated and summarized from its Greek original.
