Developments in Iran are greatly concerning — von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described the developments in Iran as greatly concerning and called on the parties involved in the ongoing military operations to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and fully respect international law.

In a post on X, von der Leyen urged all sides to avoid further escalation and emphasized the importance of safeguarding civilian lives in accordance with international law.

"The developments in Iran are greatly concerning. We remain in close contact with our partners in the region.

We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to safeguarding regional security and stability. 

Ensuring nuclear safety and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance.

The European Union has adopted extensive sanctions in response to the actions of Iran’s murderous regime and the Revolutionary Guards and has consistently promoted diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the nuclear and ballistic programmes through a negotiated solution.

In close coordination with EU Member States, we will take all necessary steps to ensure that EU citizens in the region can count on our full support.

We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law," it reads.