Security
EU states Urge Iran to stop regional violence and resume negotiations
Germany, France and the United Kingdom call on Iran to halt regional attacks and return to negotiations as Middle East tensions sharply escalate.
![A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026. Fresh blasts were heard across the Gulf cities of Dubai, Doha and Manama on Sunday morning after a day of Iran strikes in the region. [Fadel Senna/AFP]](/gc3/images/2026/03/02/54858-_82__iranian_strike-370_237.webp)
by Pishtaz |
Germany, France and the United Kingdom urged Iran to halt attacks across the Middle East following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Their appeal came after Washington and Israel carried out coordinated strikes early Saturday against Iranian military facilities and infrastructure.
The operation marked a sharp escalation in already heightened regional tensions involving Iran and its network of allied armed groups.
European officials stressed that further violence would undermine civilian safety, disrupt global trade routes and threaten fragile regional stability.
European leaders push for de-escalation
In a joint statement, the governments of Berlin, Paris and London urged Tehran to cease attacks on civilians and overseas infrastructure.
They said they condemned attacks carried out by Iran against countries in the region in the strongest possible terms.
Leaders called for an immediate resumption of negotiations and urged the Islamic regime in Tehran to pursue a diplomatic solution.
They continued by adding that the Iranian people should ultimately determine their own future.
It was emphasized that diplomacy remains the only sustainable path to resolving disputes over nuclear activities and ballistic missile development.
They warned that retaliatory strikes risk triggering broader conflict involving regional and international actors.
Germany, France and the UK have long supported diplomatic frameworks designed to limit Iran's nuclear program.
They reiterated their commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation while avoiding a wider war in the Middle East.
European officials said renewed talks could help reduce mistrust and establish verifiable limits on sensitive activities.
They added that dialogue would help address concerns about missile capabilities and regional proxy operations.
Military escalation raises global concerns
The joint US-Israeli operation demonstrated significant military coordination and advanced strike capabilities targeting Iranian cities and installations.
Officials said the strikes focused on military facilities linked to weapons development and operational planning.
The scale and precision of the attacks underscored both countries' ability to project force deep into Iranian territory.
In response, Iran vowed swift retaliation, signaling a hardening stance against further military pressure.
Iranian officials described the strikes as violations of sovereignty and warned of consequences across the region.
Analysts say the exchange has intensified fears of miscalculation that could draw in additional regional powers.
The confrontation has also raised renewed questions about the future of Iran's nuclear ambitions and missile expansion.
Some observers have speculated about potential political consequences inside Iran, though no evidence suggests imminent systemic change.
European leaders cautioned that destabilization would have far-reaching geopolitical implications beyond the Middle East.
They stressed that sustained diplomacy, backed by international coordination, offers the clearest route to preventing wider conflict.
By urging restraint on all sides, Germany, France and the UK sought to reinforce collective security efforts.
Their message underscored a shared concern that unchecked escalation would endanger civilians and undermine global stability.