EU leadership calls for diplomatic de-escalation in Middle East

On March 9, 2026, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a videoconference with leaders from several Middle Eastern nations to discuss the escalating conflict involving Iran. Participants in the discussion included representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. During the meeting, the EU officials condemned recent attacks in the region and expressed concern over the resulting threats to energy security. Costa and von der Leyen explicitly condemned indiscriminate attacks attributed to Iran and pledged solidarity with the affected populations. The EU leadership also extended gratitude to the regional partners for their assistance in repatriating tens of thousands of European citizens trapped by the conflict. Officials emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths for resolving the crisis. This initiative follows previous efforts led by High Representative Kaja Kallas to foster regional stability. The European Union reiterated its readiness to facilitate further diplomatic de-escalation efforts.