France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, released a joint statement urging Iran to seek a “negotiated solution” following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US army bases in the region.
The leaders stated they did not participate in the strikes but said they were in close contact with partners including the United States, Israel, and regional governments. The statement condemned Tehran’s retaliatory attacks and called on Iran to refrain from “indiscriminate” strikes, while also urging that “the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”
The EU said it is exploring diplomatic paths with Arab nations and called on all parties to exercise restraint and respect international law. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was in close contact with regional diplomatic partners and that the EU’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea remained on high alert. Macron called for an urgent UN security council meeting. Starmer chaired a UK Cobra emergency committee meeting on Britain’s response.