Greece, a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, expressed its “deep concern” about the escalation of conflict in the Middle East late Saturday, calling for “self-restraint” and a “return to meaningful negotiations” over Iran’s nuclear program.
The statement was made by Greece’s UN Permanent Representative, Ambassador Aglaia Balta, at a Security Council emergency meeting on Saturday, hours before Iran confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an air-raid in Tehran.
Balta expressed “Greece’s deep concern over (Saturday’s) escalation” and noted that “our goal should be a return to meaningful negotiations toward a peaceful settlement in accord with international law and the United Nations Charter.”
Through Balta, Greece warned that “self-restraint is urgent” and warned that “the danger of a wider regional conflict, with potentially serious consequences for international peace and security, is real.”
At the same time Greece “strongly condemn(ed) Irania attacks on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”
Regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Greece repeated its position that “Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon…the accumulation of significant amounts of uranium enriched up to 60% by a state that does not possess nuclear weapons raises serious concerns of proliferation” and there is no credible political justification for it.
Balta noted that “Iran’s full cooperation with the (International Atomic Energy Agency) and strict compliance with its international commitments are necessary…a strong, permanent and verifiable oversight pf Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs are a precondition of regional stability.”
Greece, as a major maritime nation, also referred to maritime safety saying that “all sides must fully respect (maritime) security in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea – especially now more than ever.” It called on Iran and its allies to “refrain from any retaliation that could put navigation at risk, threaten maritime shipping or further destabilize global energy and trade flows.”
“The protection of non-combatants and the respect of international law must remain absolute priorities,” Balta added.