Demetriou: Middle East situation does not allow for frivolous statements

House president Annita Demetriou on Sunday night said the seriousness of the situation in the Middle East “does not allow for frivolous statements”.

Her words come after the Iranian government denied assertions made by President Nikos Christodoulides that the country had asked Cyprus to convey a message to Israel.

“The situation in the Middle East is critical. The international community must intensify efforts for immediate de-escalation, through dialogue and diplomacy,” she wrote in a post on social media.

“The government, without fanfare, must closely monitor developments and take measures that will strengthen the security of our country, as well as preventative measures to shield our economy.”

Iran’s foreign ministry’s spokesman Esmael Baghaei had earlier denied Christodoulides’ assertions. He was quoted by news agency Reuters as having said that Iran “did not send any message to Israel via a third country”.

His comment came after President Nikos Christodoulides had said earlier in the day that Iran “has asked us to convey a message to Israel”, and that “we will do so”, amid an escalating conflict between the two countries.

“The telephone communications will continue. Let me remind you that we were asked by Iran to convey some messages to Israel, so, today, I will speak with [Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu]. That was scheduled for last night, but due to the chaotic situation, it could not happen,” he said.

He later added: “We have been asked to convey a message. We will do so. This is why the telephone conversation with [Netanyahu] will take place.”

Later in the day, he had held a telephone call with Netanyahu, while also holding calls with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the United Arab Emirates’ President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

During those telephone calls, the presidential palace said, Christodoulides spoke of an “immediate need for de-escalation” and “underlined the importance of a return to diplomacy”.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi called on Cyprus to take “active steps” to influence European countries “to help halt the Zionist regime’s crimes” during a telephone call with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos on Friday.