President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday evening said he hopes for the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran to de-escalate soon.

“We are monitoring the situation very closely. We hope that the conditions for de-escalation will soon be created. You understand that the facts on the ground are difficult, and the Republic of Cyprus will do everything possible … so that this crisis can also be addressed,” he said on the sidelines of an event held by the Ecologists’ Movement.

To this end, he said that the national security council had been convened earlier in the day, and that he is in “constant communication” with Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Justice Minister Costas Fitiris, and national security council head Tasos Tzionis over the matter.

He added that Cyprus’ next steps will be taken “within the framework of its humanitarian approach”, and that the government is in contact with “all neighbouring states”, as well as the European Union, and other countries, including the US and the United Kingdom.

On the matter of the UK, he said the country’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had informed him personally that its bases in Cyprus had not been used in Saturday’s strikes.

He also made reference to the status of Cyprus’ airports, reiterating Kombos’ announcement from Saturday morning that the ‘Estia’ plan, wherein people are evacuated from conflict zones via Cyprus, had been activated.

Asked whether Cyprus, in its position as the holder of the Council of the EU’s rotating presidency, would “launch any initiative for coordination at the European level”, he said that this falls within the competence of the EU’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, and that Kombos is in “constant contact” with her.

“First, there will be a consultation at the level of foreign ministers, and depending on developments, we will see about next steps. The Commission President [Ursula von der Leyen] and the Council President [Antonio Costa] have taken their positions in relation to the EU in a joint statement,” he said.

Von der Leyen and Costa had said in their joint statement that “the developments in Iran are greatly concerning”, and that “ensuring nuclear safety and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance”.

“We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law,” they said.