European Union foreign ministers discussed Iran at a breakfast meeting on the morning of 23 June and will do so throughout the meeting. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said this while speaking to reporters in Brussels.
“Ministers are very focused on a diplomatic solution and fears of retaliation and escalation of this war are very strong. Especially a closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran would be very dangerous and not good for anyone,” she said.
Also, according to the diplomat, the broader topic of the Middle East is on the agenda. In particular, the EU has prepared a review of the implementation of Article 2 of the bloc’s Association Agreement with Israel in the context of the war in Gaza.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the eve warned Iran against attacking in response to US strikes, calling the potential blockage of traffic by the Strait of Hormuz “economic suicide”.
NBC News earlier reported that Washington fears an attempted retaliatory strike by Tehran within the next two days. To close the strait, as the Iranian service of Radio Liberty reports with reference to local media, the unicameral parliament of Iran Majlis demands from the government.
The US military attacked three key sites of Iran’s nuclear programme – in Fordow, Natang and Isfahan – on the night of June 22. Iranian authorities confirmed the attacks on the sites and said the Fordow facility had been evacuated due to the high probability of strikes. There is no independent confirmation yet of the extent of the destruction at Iran’s nuclear facilities following the strike.