France, Germany, UK back ‘proportionate defensive action’ with US as Iran conflict escalates

EUROPE: European leaders reacted strongly over the past 24 hours as Iran expanded retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.

France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Sunday, March 1, condemning Tehran’s actions and signaling closer coordination with the United States and regional allies. 

The escalation came amid widening military exchanges and growing concern about energy supplies following strikes on key infrastructure in the Gulf. 

France, Germany and the UK signal defensive cooperation

In a joint statement, the leaders of France, Germany and the UK said they had agreed to work with the United States and other regional partners in response to Iran’s missile attacks across the Middle East.

“We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source,” the three leaders said.

Separately, the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, described Iran’s attacks on multiple countries in the region as “inexcusable.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, she said, “The events must not lead to further escalation that could threaten the region, Europe and beyond, with unpredictable consequences.”

Kallas added that the bloc was contributing “to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions” and prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reiterated on Monday that France had not been "informed, and we did not take part in the military operations launched by the United States and by Israel."

He said France’s immediate priority was ensuring the safety of approximately 400,000 French citizens in the Gulf region and promoting de-escalation.

Barrot added that France remained ready to act in line with the "principle of collective self-defense enshrined in international law." 

“The indefinite prolongation of military operations without a clear objective risks creating a spiral of instability that would plunge Iran and the region into a prolonged period of uncertainty, with a highly uncertain outcome, ultimately harming our interests,” Barrot added.

Russia urges ceasefire as Vladimir Putin holds calls with UAE and Qatar

Russia called for an immediate ceasefire amid the escalating conflict following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it was concerned that the military campaign, which it described as “aggression by the US and Israel,” was expanding across the region.

The ministry suggested that the conflict might be aimed not only at regime change but also at undermining efforts to normalize relations between Tehran and its Arab neighbors.

It condemned a strike on a girls’ school in the Iranian city of Minab that resulted in the deaths of children and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate phone calls on Monday with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 

According to the Kremlin, Putin told the UAE leader that Moscow had worked to promote a peaceful resolution to Iran’s nuclear program and find “mutually acceptable compromises.”

He also thanked the UAE for supporting Russian nationals in the country.

In his call with Qatar’s emir, both leaders expressed concern that the conflict could widen and draw in third countries, voicing hope for a “rapid de-escalation” of hostilities as diplomatic channels remained active.