EU urges 'all sides to step back' after US strikes Iran

The European Union on Sunday called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations after the United States joined Israel's war with Iran by striking Iranian nuclear sites.

Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran on June 13. Tehran has responded by firing missiles at Israel, and had vowed to retaliate if Washington joined in.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Iran "must never acquire the bomb" and the bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas described the possibility as "a threat to international security".

But both stressed that Brussels remained committed to diplomacy at a flashpoint moment for the Middle East.

"I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation," Kallas wrote on X, adding that EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation on Monday.

"The negotiating table is the only place to end this crisis," von der Leyen echoed, also writing on the social media platform.

Top diplomats from the bloc's 27 nations were already due to gather in Brussels for talks on a range of issues, from Russia's war in Ukraine to Gaza, but Iran is now expected to dominate the agenda.

The appeals came after Kallas joined top diplomats from France, Germany and Britain for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday.

The European powers had urged Tehran to revive diplomatic efforts with the United States to find a solution in the standoff over its nuclear programme.

But Iran had retorted that it could only consider diplomacy once Israel halted its bombardment of the Islamic republic.

"Diplomacy remains the only way to bring peace and security to the Middle East region. Too many civilians will once again be the victims of a further escalation," Antonio Costa, the head of the European Council representing EU member states, said on Sunday.

UK PM Starmer calls on Iran to 'return to negotiating table'

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to "return to the negotiating table" over its nuclear ambitions after the US carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
"Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," Starmer said on X, adding that "stability in the region is a priority".
"We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."