EU chief pushes for diplomatic solution to Israel-Iran crisis in call with Netanyahu

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a diplomatic solution to address Iran’s nuclear threat during a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, while supporting Israel’s right to self-defense.Speaking at a G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, von der Leyen emphasised that a negotiated solution would be “the best solution” in the long term. “We are following developments in the Middle East with deep concern,” she stated, underlining the EU’s commitment to peace, stability, and diplomatic de-escalation.The EU chief explicitly agreed with Netanyahu’s position that “Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, without any question,” as she said in a post on X. She identified Iran as the primary source of regional instability, while acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself against aggression.Von der Leyen’s comments come in the wake of recent findings by the UN nuclear watchdog indicating Iran’s non-compliance with its nuclear obligations. In response, Iran announced plans to increase enriched uranium production, though maintaining it would not reach weapons-grade levels.During the G7 press briefing, she drew parallels between Iran’s actions in the Middle East and its support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, noting that Iranian-made missiles were “indiscriminately hitting cities not only in Israel but also in Ukraine.”The conversation also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with von der Leyen describing the situation as “unacceptable.” She reported that Netanyahu had committed to increasing humanitarian aid access to the war-torn region.The EU Commission President, who has previously criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, emphasized the need to discuss the Iran crisis alongside the Ukraine situation at the G7 summit, highlighting the interconnected nature of these regional conflicts and their impact on global security.