European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urges urgent de-escalation to prevent the US-Israeli conflict with Iran from spreading across the region.
BRUSSELS: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for urgent de-escalation to prevent the US-Israeli conflict with Iran from spreading across the Middle East.
She condemned what she described as reckless and indiscriminate attacks by Iran and its proxies against sovereign territories across the region, following strikes on a British air base in Cyprus and a Saudi oil facility.
“We must work hard to de-escalate and stop the conflict spreading,” von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels, warning that the stability of the region was of the utmost importance.
She stated that the situation remains volatile after consulting with nine Middle Eastern leaders over the weekend and ahead of chairing a crisis meeting of the EU’s college of commissioners.
While describing recent developments as deeply concerning, von der Leyen reiterated that the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spelled renewed hope for the oppressed people of Iran.
“We strongly support their right to determine their own future,” she said, calling for a credible transition, a halt to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programmes, and an end to destabilising activities.
Von der Leyen stressed earlier that the EU was solidly behind its member states after an Iranian drone crashed into a British base on Cyprus.
“While the Republic of Cyprus was not the target, let me be clear: we stand collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat,” she wrote on social media platform X.