The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced on Monday 6 January that he has convened a Foreign Affairs Council on Friday 10 January to discuss “recent developments regarding Iraq and Iran”. “The EU will play its full role to seek de-escalation of tensions in the region”, he added.
Tensions on the ground are mounting. On Monday, Iran announced that it would lift all limits on its centrifuge equipment used for the production of nuclear fuel, in violation of the Iranian nuclear agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA). The day before, US President Donald Trump had threatened to bomb sites in Iran and two rockets were fired near the US Embassy in Baghdad.
Earlier in the day, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced that he had “suggested to Josep Borrell that the Foreign Affairs Council meeting (scheduled for 20 January, editor’s note) be brought forward to this week, so that we can quickly agree on a common approach”. “In view of the dangerous escalation of the conflict between the United States and Iran, Europe in particular now has an important role to play. As Europeans, we have strong and proven channels of communication with all parties and we must make full use of them in this situation”, he explained in his statement.
On Monday 6 January, according to the spokesman of the European External Action Service, Peter Stano, the High Representative was scaling up contacts. “There is a lot of activity in progress with regards to how the EU can help de-escalate”, he told the press. “The High Representative is very committed, in contact with all relevant partners”, he added.
While Mr Stano refused to say whether Mr Borrell had spoken to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the European External Action Service did, however, report on the conversation between the High Representative and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on “recent developments in Iraq, the need to de-escalate tensions in the region and the importance of preserving the JCPOA”.
Concerned about the increase in “violent clashes in Iraq”, including the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, Mr Borrell “urged Iran to exercise restraint and carefully consider any reaction to avoid further escalation”, according to an EEAS statement. He also invited Mr Zarif to come to Brussels to further discuss this issue. “There is a mutual understanding that engagement should continue, but it's up to the Iranians to let us know how they want to proceed”, Mr Stano said.
For their part, the German Chancellor, the French President and the British Prime Minister stated in a joint communiqué that they were “ready to continue the dialogue with all stakeholders in order to contribute to the easing of tensions and the restoration of stability in the region”. “De-escalation is now necessary. We call on all parties to act with restraint and responsibility. The current cycle of violence in Iraq must stop”, they added, calling on Iran to refrain from all violent action.
In recent hours, publicly, the High Representative has focused on the Iranian nuclear deal. In a Twitter post, he said he “regrets” the Iranian announcement. “As ever we will rely on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verification” regarding the facts on the ground. “Full implementation of the nuclear agreement by all is now more important than ever for regional stability and global security. I will continue working with all participants on a way forward”, Mr Borrell said. For their part, the French, German and British leaders “urgently” asked Tehran to “return to full compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA”.
Furthermore, when asked by EUROPE about the continuation of the EU Council's advisory mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq), at a time when NATO had suspended its training mission on the ground, Mr Stano said that the EU had not taken a decision “at this stage” on the EU's activities in the country. “We are analysing the situation because ultimately it is about the safety of our personnel”, he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)