Cyprus has activated its National Crisis Plan, known as ESTIA, following Israel’s recent bombing in Tehran.
The move aims to ensure the safe evacuation and repatriation of citizens from areas affected by crisis.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Ministerial Crisis Management Team, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior, and Justice, approved the activation of ESTIA.
The plan is designed to receive and repatriate citizens from crisis regions, using Cyprus as a safe transit point.
The Ministry emphasised that diplomatic missions are closely monitoring the situation, particularly with regard to Cypriot citizens living in Tehran.
The Cyprus Police confirmed to Politis that they are supporting the ESTIA plan.
Their role focuses on general coordination and readiness at key points such as ports and airports.
Police are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies to ensure the plan can be implemented smoothly and safely if needed.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, said authorities are following developments “very closely” and remain in constant contact with Cypriot embassies on the ground.
He confirmed that the ESTIA plan is operational, describing it as the Ministry’s national action plan for emergencies or crises in nearby regions, primarily the wider Middle East.
Its purpose is to facilitate the safe evacuation of citizens through Cyprus.
The Ministry’s Crisis Management Department remains active and on standby to respond according to developments.