Upon instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, the Ministry’s Secretary General, Themistoklis Demiris, made a short while ago a strong-worded demarche to the Iranian Ambassador in Athens to protest the violent seizure of two Greek-flagged ships in the Gulf.
The aforementioned actions are essentially tantamount to acts of piracy.
The Secretary General condemned in the strongest terms these actions, which are contrary to fundamental rules of International Law and International Navigation.
He called for the immediate release of the ships and their crews.
He further stressed that these actions would have a particularly negative impact on bilateral relations, as well as on EU-Iran relations.
Specifically, earlier today, an Iranian Navy helicopter landed on the Greek-flagged Delta Poseidon ship which was sailing in international waters in the Gulf (22 nautical miles off the coast of Iran).
Armed men then captured the ship's crew, including two Greek citizens.
A similar incident was reported to have occurred on another Greek-flagged ship with seven Greek citizens on board, close to the Iranian coast.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already informed in this regard the European External Action Service, the International Maritime Organization, as well as allies and partners of Greece.
In light of the above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Greek citizens to avoid travelling to Iran.
Ships flying the Greek flag are advised to follow the instructions of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, with which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in close coordination and constant communication.
May 27, 2022