European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas called on the United States and Israel on Tuesday to end their war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and stated that the EU was consulting Middle East governments to find a resolution to the conflict.
In an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Kallas also mentioned that the European Union was not ruling out European participation in efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but this would likely be part of a diplomatic solution.
Several European countries have rejected President Donald Trump’s calls to participate in a mission to free the strait, a crucial transit point for oil, gas, and other goods that is currently heavily blocked by Iran.
European leaders have stated that they are not willing to put their forces in danger in the midst of a war they did not initiate, even though Trump warned that their reluctance could have negative consequences for the NATO alliance.
Kallas expressed that Europe did not fully understand some of the United States’ actions under Trump’s presidency or its objectives in Iran, but it was accustomed to his unpredictability and was responding in a “calmer” manner.
Former Estonian Prime Minister Kallas, who currently holds the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, stated that the EU was willing to help “diplomatically bring the parties together to truly end this war.”
“We have consulted with countries in the region, such as the Gulf states, Jordan, and Egypt, to see if we could also propose solutions to Iran, Israel, and the United States to help each save face,” she said without providing further details on the consultations.
This conflict is the latest in a series of events that have strained relations between Europe and the United States since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.
“The main concern of European countries is that we were not consulted prior to the start of this war – in fact, quite the opposite. Many Europeans tried to convince the United States and Israel not to start this war,” Kallas remarked.
However, the war has already had a major impact on Europe, particularly through the rise in energy prices due to Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz.
“No one is ready to put their citizens in danger in the Strait of Hormuz,” Kallas stated.
“We need to find diplomatic ways to keep this pathway open to prevent a food crisis, a fertilizer crisis, and an energy crisis in the world,” she added.
Kallas suggested replicating a UN-negotiated agreement allowing the transportation of cereals out of Ukraine during wartime, which permits Ukraine to export cereals, food, and fertilizers through the Black Sea without civilian ships being attacked by Russia.
She mentioned discussing this idea with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and stated that the UN was “working on this issue.”
“The question now is what neighboring countries could also agree on, especially Iran,” Kallas concluded.
[Context: Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, urges the US and Israel to end their war against Iran and seeks a diplomatic solution.] [Fact Check: The EU is consulting with Middle Eastern governments to find a resolution to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.]
