The European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, called on the United States and Israel to end their war against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tuesday, stating that the EU was consulting Middle Eastern governments to find a resolution to the conflict.
In an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Kallas also mentioned that Europe was open to participating in efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but this would most likely be part of a diplomatic solution.
Several European countries have rejected President Donald Trump’s calls to participate in a mission to free the strait, a critical transit point for oil, gas, and other goods that is currently heavily blockaded by Iran.
European leaders have expressed unwillingness to risk their forces in the middle of a war they did not initiate, despite Trump warning that their reluctance could negatively impact NATO alliance.
Kallas acknowledged Europe’s lack of understanding of certain actions of the United States under Trump’s presidency and its goals in Iran, but mentioned that Europe was accustomed to his unpredictability and was responding in a calmer manner.
Kallas emphasized that the EU was engaging in consultations with countries in the Middle East, such as Gulf nations, Jordan, and Egypt, to potentially propose solutions to Iran, Israel, and the United States in order to de-escalate the conflict and save face for all sides.
While no further details were provided on these consultations, Kallas highlighted that finding diplomatic pathways to end the war was crucial, given the complexity of conflict resolution.
As the conflict escalates, impacting Europe through rising energy prices due to Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, Kallas stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent further crises in agricultural and energy sectors worldwide.
Kallas suggested replicating a UN-negotiated agreement that allows for the transport of grains out of Ukraine during wartime, proposing a similar arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe passage of essential goods without the risk of attacks.
Having discussed this idea with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Kallas mentioned that the UN was actively involved in exploring this possibility, focusing on the cooperation of neighboring countries, particularly Iran.
