BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 1. The European Union
(EU) has called on Iran to refrain from retaliatory strikes against
Middle Eastern countries hosting US military bases, the High
Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja
Kallas, Trend reports.
Kallas said the EU is in close contact with Middle East
countries and is making efforts to stabilise the situation, which
has further escalated after the US and Israel launched attacks on
Iranian territory.
Following the second round of nuclear talks between Washington
and Tehran on February 17, which ended without progress, the U.S.
increased its presence in areas near Iran, deploying over 150
aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East.
The escalation follows the 3rd round of nuclear talks between
Iran and the United States in Geneva on February 26. Held under the
administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the negotiations
were seen as a last opportunity for a diplomatic resolution.
However, no agreements were reached, as Tehran refused to halt
uranium enrichment, dismantle its nuclear facilities, or accept
indefinite restrictions on its nuclear program. Israel launched its
airstrikes shortly afterward, with the country’s Defense Minister
Katz emphasizing that the operations were preemptive.
As a result of the military airstrikes carried out the previous
day by Israel and the United States, Iran’s Supreme Leader Seyyed
Ali Khamenei and members of his family were killed.
