The European Union has a key role to play in ensuring a lasting ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. that addresses concerns about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told POLITICO.
“From EU naval operations to hard-won nuclear expertise, the EU can play a concrete role in making any agreement durable,” Kallas said in comments shared Monday, as she traveled to Islamabad to meet Pakistan’s leadership.
Kallas’ trip comes days after Washington struck a tenuous agreement with Tehran to stop fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked for roughly three months amid threats of Iranian attacks against commercial vessels.
European countries and the U.K. have carefully avoided any direct military role in the Iranian conflict, and their refusal to allow American bases on the continent to be used for combat operations caused major transatlantic strains, frustrating U.S. President Donald Trump.
However, Kallas argued that the EU — which played a major role in negotiating the now-lapsed non-proliferation deal with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — can now step forward to help solidify the ceasefire and address the nuclear issues.
“With Pakistan’s help, there is now a tenuous diplomatic push underway to extend the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and reopen the strait,” she said ahead of meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
“But any interim agreement must be followed by deeper talks on the nuclear question, missiles, proxies and other issues,” Kallas added.
Iran’s nuclear research facilities were damaged in U.S.-Israeli strikes, but stocks of enriched uranium, which can be weaponized, remain in the country. The International Atomic Energy Agency, based in Vienna, has previously played a key role in monitoring Iran’s nuclear program.
But with Trump unhappy at Europe’s stance on the Iran war, it’s unclear what role — if any — the U.S. would give European authorities in post-conflict talks.
A readout of the meeting from Dar’s office did not mention any future role for Europe in the talks.