European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday urged the United States and Israel to end their war with Iran, warning that the conflict risks escalating further and destabilizing global markets.
She said the EU is actively consulting with Middle Eastern countries on ways to bring the crisis to a close.
In an interview in Brussels, Kallas noted that while European participation in efforts to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a possibility, any involvement would likely be diplomatic rather than military. The strategic waterway, a key route for global shipments of oil and gas, has been largely blocked by Iran.
Several European nations have rejected calls from US President Donald Trump to join a mission aimed at reopening the Strait, citing concerns over entering a conflict they did not initiate. European leaders have also warned that deploying forces could put lives at risk, despite pressure from Washington.
Kallas acknowledged that Europe has struggled to fully understand some US actions and objectives in Iran but said the bloc has grown accustomed to unpredictability in Washington’s approach and is responding with greater caution.
She stressed that ending the war is in everyone’s interest, noting that conflicts are often easier to start than to stop and can quickly spiral out of control.
The EU, she added, is engaging with regional partners including Gulf states, Jordan and Egypt to explore proposals that could allow all parties — Iran, Israel and the United States — to step back from the conflict without losing face.
Kallas also highlighted growing concerns within Europe over the economic fallout of the war, particularly rising energy prices linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. She warned that prolonged disruption could trigger a wider global crisis affecting food, fertilizer and energy supplies.
Rather than military intervention, Kallas pointed to diplomatic solutions, suggesting a framework similar to the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal that enabled Ukraine to export food during wartime without attacks on civilian vessels. She said discussions on such an approach have taken place with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with further consideration now focused on what terms Iran and neighboring countries might accept.
