EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen separately warned that further escalation in the Middle East would endanger global security and cost more civilian lives.
“I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,” Kallas wrote on X after the United States said its bombers had hit three Iranian nuclear facilities overnight.
“Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security,” she added, announcing that EU foreign ministers would debate the crisis at an extraordinary meeting on Monday.
Von der Leyen echoed the call, saying on X that “the negotiating table is the only place to end this crisis”. Iran “must never acquire the bomb” and should commit to “a credible diplomatic solution,” she wrote.
Costa voiced “deep concern” over events in the region and said the 27-nation bloc would intensify contacts with all parties to seek a settlement. “Diplomacy remains the only way to bring peace and security to the Middle East. Too many civilians will once again be the victims of a further escalation,” he posted.
The appeals followed US President Donald Trump’s decision to order the first direct American strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, siding with Israel after years of tension over Tehran’s atomic program.
Washington said the raids aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring a bomb; Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has vowed to respond.
EU officials have repeatedly stressed their opposition to a military solution and have tried to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, which the United States, under President Donald Trump, abandoned in 2018.
The agreement imposed strict limits on Iran’s enrichment activities in return for relief from international sanctions.
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Source: PAP, ABC, MSNBC