The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed that Iran has lodged a formal diplomatic complaint, démarche, against Greece, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis showed support for the US killing of general Qasem Soleimani.
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said Iran lodged a démarche, adding that Iran “understands what the broader Greek position is and we understand why Iran wants, in this context, to raise the issue.”
According to Dendias, he and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, would be in conversation.
This diplomatic ripple comes after Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, returns from Washington where he had in depth meetings with prominent American politicians and President Trump himself.
After Mitsotakis’ visit to the US, the two countries boasted their diplomatic relations and strong alliance.
The Greek Prime Minister also publicly expressed Greece’s support for the US in executing Soleimani at the Atlantic Council meeting.
He said:
“First we are allies with the US. We stand by our allies in difficult times. I understand that this decision was taken in the light of the US national interest and we support that decision. At the same time, we must be fully aware that there are widespread concerns about a possible escalation, and I think efforts must be made now that the US has given a clear signal about the red lines they are willing to draw in order to move towards an initiative that would lessen the tension. And I hope this message is received by everyone. Yes, we have and still have very close ties to the Arab world and consider ourselves honest players in the region, but we do not forget who our allies are and where we belong geopolitically.”
Mitsotakis also came under fire in Greece for his statement.
Main opposition party, SYRIZA, noted that Mitsotakis “clearly stated that he supports US actions in relation to the execution of the Iranian general in Iraq, becoming the only European leader to make such a move.”
In this way, SYRIZA added, “he puts the country at risk for no reason.”
