European leaders have called on Iran to pursue a negotiated solution following recent military strikes in the region, making clear that they did not participate in the US-Israeli operations. In a rare joint statement, the leaders of France, Germany and the UK condemned Iranian retaliatory attacks on US army bases and urged Tehran to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
The statement, signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: 'We did not participate in these strikes, but are in close contact with our international partners, including the United States, Israel and partners in the region.' The leaders reiterated their commitment to regional stability and the protection of civilian life.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the developments as 'greatly concerning' and said the EU was exploring diplomatic paths with Arab nations. She called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians. The EU's Aspides naval mission remains on high alert in the Red Sea to help keep the maritime corridor open.
President Macron called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, warning that the escalation has serious consequences for international peace and security. In the UK, Prime Minister Starmer chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee to discuss Britain's response. A government spokesperson said the UK stood ready to protect its interests but did not wish to see further escalation.
In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain described Iranian ballistic missiles that targeted sites within their borders as a 'flagrant violation' of national sovereignty and international law. Qatar also said it had downed missiles targeting the country. Saudi Arabia condemned the Iranian attacks in the strongest possible terms, while Russia demanded an immediate halt to US and Israeli strikes and called for a return to political and diplomatic settlement.
