Germany, France and UK tell Iran to stop attacks in region
Germany, France and the United Kingdom have jointly condemned Iran’s recent military strikes across the Middle East, urging Tehran to halt its attacks and return to diplomatic negotiations to prevent a wider regional war.
In a rare coordinated statement issued on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they “condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms,” calling on Iran to refrain from what they described as indiscriminate military action.
The three European powers, often referred to as the E3, stressed the need for an immediate resumption of negotiations and a peaceful resolution of the escalating conflict. They reiterated longstanding demands that Iran curb its nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes and end activities considered destabilising across the region.
The warning follows a sharp escalation in hostilities after joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier on Saturday, which triggered retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks on U.S. and allied positions in several Middle Eastern countries. European leaders have expressed concern that the confrontation could expand into a broader regional war.
Paris, Berlin and London emphasised that they were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran but said they remain in close contact with international partners, including the United States and Israel, as well as governments in the region. They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting civilians and maintaining regional stability.
The European statement is part of intensifying diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis, with Macron also calling for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting and the European Union exploring diplomatic channels with Arab states to prevent further escalation.
The latest developments underscore growing international alarm over the rapidly widening Middle East conflict and renewed calls for diplomacy to avert a broader war.
