According to Kaja Kallasová, the EU offers both naval operations and nuclear know-how. He wants to declare a permanent truce between the US and Iran and open the Strait of Hormuz.
The European Union can play a vital role in negotiating a lasting ceasefire between Iran and the United States and address US concerns about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas told POLITICO during her visit to Pakistan’s Islamabad.
- The European Union is trying to broker a lasting ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
- Kaja Kallasová claims that the EU can solve the American concerns about the Iranian core.
“From EU naval operations to hard-won expertise in the field of nuclear energy – the EU can play a concrete role in ensuring the lasting validity of any agreement,” declared Kallas during a visit to Pakistan, which is mediating peace talks between the US and Iran.
EU and transatlantic tension
EU member states did not get involved in the conflict in Iran, and some refused to allow the US military to use US bases on their territory for combat operations. This move caused considerable tension in transatlantic relations.
However, Kallas believes that the EU can now enter the negotiations to help broker a ceasefire and resolve nuclear issues. The Union also played a key role in negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), which US President Donald Trump withdrew from three years later.
Efforts to extend the ceasefire
“With Pakistan’s help, diplomatic efforts are currently underway to extend the US-Iran ceasefire and reopen the (Hormuz) Strait,” said Kallas, who is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Asim Munir in Pakistan. “However, the temporary agreement must be followed by more thorough negotiations on the nuclear issue, missiles, Iran’s allies and other topics,” emphasized Kallasová.
However, POLITICO points out that Trump is frustrated with Europe’s stance on the war against Iran, and it is therefore unclear what role – if any – the US would assign to European representatives in post-conflict negotiations. The role of Europe is not even mentioned in the report from the meeting with Kallas, which was issued by Dár’s office.
