BRUSSELS — Europe’s foreign ministers renewed calls for diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran as they gathered in Brussels on Monday.
The U.S. over the weekend struck three Iranian nuclear sites, a dramatic escalation that brought Washington directly into Israel’s war with Iran. European leaders had traveled to Geneva on the eve of the strikes to meet with Iran’s foreign minister in an unsuccessful last-minute bid to deescalate tensions.
“There needs to be a diplomatic solution,” Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, said ahead of Monday’s meeting. “Europe has [an] important role and always had. When Iran is willing to talk to us, we have to use this opportunity.”
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he’d suggested Rome as a possible venue for U.S.-Iran talks, and called on all sides to “look to the future, not to the past.”
“There is no lasting solution to this problem through military means,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said. “Only negotiation will make it possible to permanently restrict the Iranian nuclear program and to provide a lasting response to this question, to this issue, which is existential for Israel, for the region, and for Europe.”
When asked about Europe’s role in the conflict, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said “the Europeans have a strong position.” Iran is only willing to negotiate with Europe, he said, noting that this is “good sign for us” — but stressed the need for U.S. involvement in talks.
“Europeans told Iran on Friday that it had to be ready to negotiate directly with the U.S. Unfortunately, that was not successful and perhaps what we have seen is a consequence of that,” Wadephul said.
“The negotiating table is the only place to end this crisis,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X on Sunday.
As they gathered on Monday, ministers were largely diplomatic and refused to be drawn on whether they saw U.S. involvement as conducive to restarting negotiations.
Ireland’s Tánaiste Simon Harris, however, said that Washington’s attack was a “very unhelpful intervention” that “added a significant level of danger to an already volatile situation.”
“There are international laws that say you shouldn’t do this,” he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the U.S. bombing of Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites was “extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior” and a “grave violation” of international law.
Araghchi also accused Israel and Washington of deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Israel’s foreign minister previously rejected a diplomatic solution to the conflict, while Tehran also said “there is no room for negotiations” until Israel ceases its strikes.
Elena Giordano contributed to this report.
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