The EU warned Sunday, March 1 against a prolonged war in the Middle East, saying further escalation could threaten Europe and beyond, as it urged Iran to refrain from indiscriminate retaliation after US-Israeli strikes.
Foreign ministers from the bloc's 27 nations – most of which are NATO members – held special talks via video link on day 2 of an assault that killed Iran's supreme leader, as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called for a "credible transition" in the country.
Two French vessels would reinforce the EU's naval mission in the Red Sea as Iran's retaliatory strikes threatened maritime traffic, a European diplomat said after the meeting.
"The Middle East stands to lose greatly from any drawn-out war," the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said, speaking on behalf of member states after the talks.
"The events unfolding in Iran must not lead to an escalation that could threaten the Middle East, Europe and beyond, with unpredictable consequences, also in the economic sphere."
