Brussels: In a rare display of high-level diplomatic urgency, top European foreign ministers held a critical call with their Iranian counterpart on Monday, delivering a unified message: return to nuclear negotiations immediately and de-escalate the burgeoning conflict with Israel. The concerted push from France, Britain, and Germany (the E3 nations), along with the European Union's foreign policy chief, reflects profound concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.
The ministerial outreach comes as tensions between Iran and Israel have spiraled into direct military confrontation, marked by Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and subsequent Iranian retaliatory attacks. Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors, supported by the E3, adopted a resolution declaring Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations – a move that further ratcheted up pressure on Tehran.
During the call, European ministers implored Iran to re-enter negotiations "as quickly as possible, without preconditions," urging against any actions that could further imperil Western interests. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while reiterating Tehran's commitment to diplomacy, emphasized that their immediate "focus at this stage is, of course, to effectively confront aggression." This stance suggests Iran's priority remains its response to Israeli actions rather than immediate engagement on nuclear terms.
The European powers, signatories to the 2015 nuclear accord, are acutely aware of the perils of unchecked escalation. They have concurrently conveyed messages to Israel, urging restraint and caution against striking Iranian authorities, infrastructure, or civilian populations. The E3's frustration with what they perceive as a tough and unyielding U.S. strategy in the stalled nuclear talks is also evident, even as Washington asserts its primary role in de-escalating the broader Iran-Israel conflict.
With European officials considering a referral of Iran to the United Nations Security Council later this summer if no progress is made on nuclear talks, the stakes are exceptionally high. French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized Europe's deep expertise in the nuclear dossier, advocating for a pivotal role in any resumed negotiations. As the region remains on tenterhooks, this rare European diplomatic intervention seeks to pull both Iran and Israel back from the brink of a full-scale conflagration, prioritizing a return to dialogue to avert a catastrophic wider war.