Greece is redeploying a Patriot air defense battery from Karpathos to Crete as Athens strengthens protection around the strategically important Souda Bay military area, according to sources cited by the local news outlet Kathimerini.
The battery, along with its personnel and associated equipment, was transferred overnight and is expected to be positioned near the Souda military base, the Sunday report said.
The move comes amid heightened alert levels within Greece’s Defense Ministry and armed forces following threats by senior Iranian officials directed at US military installations in Europe.
Greek authorities are evaluating potential threats to key infrastructure and military sites as tensions continue to rise between Iran, the United States and Israel.
According to allied intelligence assessments, Iran retains a substantial ballistic missile arsenal, with some missiles reportedly capable of traveling more than 2,000 kilometers. That range could put parts of southeastern Europe within reach.
The Patriot system had been stationed on Karpathos since March as part of Greece’s efforts to improve its defenses against ballistic missile threats.
Athens is also coordinating with Washington and Jerusalem regarding possible threats to Greek and Cypriot facilities. Greece is additionally considering providing support for Bulgaria’s air defenses should Sofia formally request assistance.
Iran has carried out strikes against neighboring countries in recent months in retaliation for US attacks on Iranian territory. Greece has not been targeted, but Tehran has intensified its rhetoric while negotiations with Washington remain stalled.
On Saturday, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned countries not to cooperate with Washington’s efforts to isolate Iran economically.
“We declare to all countries… do not join the economic war waged by the United States,” Rezaei said on Iranian state television.
“Any country participating in the imposition of economic restrictions against us is considered an enemy,” he added.
Rezaei also threatened a severe response if President Donald Trump orders military action against Iran.
Should Trump “take action, our confrontation will be like an earthquake,” he said.
He maintained that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and said reopening it would depend on Washington changing its policies and meeting its commitments.
“The Strait of Hormuz is closed and will not reopen,” Rezaei declared. “If the United States changes its behavior and fulfills its commitments, the equation will be different, but this time the United States must act. It cannot be resolved through words and talks.”
The statements follow Trump’s announcement Wednesday of a major new economic campaign against Iran. In a Truth Social post, Trump labeled the effort “an economic D-Day” and warned countries that provide Tehran with economic assistance that they would face consequences.
“These maniacs are on the ropes, and these HISTORIC MEASURES will cripple them and their ability to project terror worldwide. IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he wrote.
Trump said Friday that the emphasis on economic pressure does not mean military options have been taken off the table.
“No, not at all,” the President replied when asked whether the move toward economic warfare meant the military options were limited. “It just means that we’re seeing what happens. They have no money, they have no navy, they have no air force, they have 350% inflation. So we’re just going to sort of see what happens.”
“We have total control, as you know, of the border. We have total control, if you look at the blockade, we have total control of that entire region having to do with the Strait of Hormuz. And that means well into it, the land areas,” Trump continued.
The president also said Tehran is interested in reaching an agreement with Washington but has yet to agree to what he considers acceptable terms.
He said Iran “would love to make a deal, but they are not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion.”