Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Sunday urged de-escalation and a return to talks after the US joined Israel’s confrontation with Iran by hitting the country’s nuclear zones.
Why did Kaja Kallas call for de-escalation now?What was discussed in the Geneva nuclear negotiations?
Kallas’ statement came in light of the United States having launched significant airstrikes against three of Iran’s key nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on the night of June 21, 2025. The strikes were ordered by President Donald Trump and executed with the stated goal of eliminating Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities.
Why did Kaja Kallas call for de-escalation now?
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated that Tehran should not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon, describing the possibility as “a threat to international security” — but emphasised that the EU remained committed to diplomacy, at a flashpoint juncture for the region.
“I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,”
Kallas noted on X, adding that EU foreign ministers will examine the circumstances on Monday.
Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security.
I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation.
EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the situation tomorrow.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 22, 2025
Kallas’s statement came after she attended talks with top diplomats from France, Germany, and the UK in Geneva on Friday, along with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The European powers had urged Iran to restart diplomatic efforts with the US to resolve the nuclear programme standoff.
What was discussed in the Geneva nuclear negotiations?
Two days earlier, European foreign ministers met with their Iranian counterpart in a bid to prevent the Middle East conflict from escalating, despite significant sticking points. All parties signalled a willingness to continue discussions.
Germany, the UK, and France, known as the E3, along with the EU, have urged Iran to talk to the US about its disputed nuclear programme. However, Iran has repeatedly said it won’t negotiate with the Trump administration until Israeli strikes on Iran stop.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran was prepared to explore diplomatic options once Israel had halted its attacks and been held accountable for its activities.
“In this regard, I made it crystal clear that Iran’s defence capabilities are not negotiable,”
he said following the talks lasting around three hours in Geneva.
Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
