BRUSSELS — The ongoing aggression from Iran has put European nations in a precarious position, compelling them to reconsider their diplomatic approaches to the escalating crisis. Avi Nir-Feldklein, Israel’s ambassador to the EU, emphasized in an interview that Europe is already entrenched in a conflict with Iran, urging a decisive military response against the regime.
Call for military support
Nir-Feldklein stated, “The continent is in a war with Iran,” highlighting that this conflict has persisted for some time. His remarks come in the wake of recent military strikes by Israel and the U.S. against Iranian targets, which prompted retaliation from Tehran. While European governments have generally advocated for restraint and diplomatic negotiations, Iran has warned that any European involvement alongside U.S. and Israeli forces would be seen as direct participation in the conflict.
“You don’t have to have missiles or drones shot into your territory to be in a war with Iran. There were attacks on European soil that were initiated by Iranian agents,” Nir-Feldklein said, pointing to the frequent links made by European intelligence and judicial systems connecting Iran to terror plots on the continent.
Mixed European responses
The reaction across Europe to the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, which resulted in the deaths of influential Iranian leaders, has been varied. While nations like Germany and the U.K. have supported actions aimed at dismantling the Iranian regime, Spain has voiced apprehension over the timing of these strikes, especially since talks regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions were still active. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the military action as “unjustified and dangerous,” and a joint EU statement emphasized the need for “maximum restraint, protection of civilians and full respect of international law.”
“The EU is composed of 27 countries — it makes sense that you have differences… but right and wrong should at least be easy to decide, and the Iranian regime is definitely something that is wrong,” Nir-Feldklein remarked.
Nir-Feldklein dismissed the European calls for dialogue with the current Iranian government, asserting that such negotiations are insincere. He critiqued the tendency of Iranian negotiators to mislead their counterparts while acting in stark contrast to their words.
As tensions escalate, some EU member states are beginning to understand the need for a more robust stance. France announced plans to deploy anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus, while the U.K. is contemplating sending a warship to the Mediterranean as a part of defensive measures. British political leader Keir Starmer has reiterated that the U.K. will not engage in offensive operations in the Middle East, emphasizing the lessons learned from past conflicts about the need for a solid strategy.
Nir-Feldklein concluded by asserting that the Gulf nations are currently assessing their responses to Iran’s actions. He stressed that the role Europe chooses to play in this dynamic is critical, urging European leaders to support their convictions regarding the illegitimacy of the Iranian regime and advocate for the Iranian people to shape their own destiny.
In response to the crisis, ambassadors and foreign ministers from across the EU convened for closed-door discussions, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held an emergency meeting to formulate an effective response. According to an anonymous official, the bloc’s discussions included concerns about emergencies, humanitarian aid, impacts on supply chains, airspace restrictions, potential migration influxes, and cyber threats, including the risk of Iranian sleeper cells within Europe.