EU foreign policy chief urges Israel, Iran to avoid further escalation
'This is the moment to return to the negotiating table,' says Kaja Kallas
ISTANBUL
The EU foreign policy chief on Tuesday urged Israel and Iran to avoid further escalation following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire.
"The announced reprieve in fighting between Israel and Iran is good news, but remains fragile. All sides should stand by this and refrain from further violence. All further escalation must be avoided," Kaja Kallas wrote on X.
She expressed the EU's "solidarity" with all affected, including Qatar, where Iran launched retaliatory strikes on a US airbase on Monday.
"This is the moment to return to the negotiating table. Let this be a turning point for the whole region. I will continue to work towards this end with all sides," Kallas added.
A ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect at 0400GMT Tuesday, apparently ending the 12-day conflict.
However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered his army earlier Tuesday to launch intense strikes on Tehran, claiming that Iran violated the truce. Iran denied the claim, vowing a resolute response to any new strikes.
The ceasefire was initially announced by Trump, who said it would involve a phased halt to operations, with Iran beginning the ceasefire first and Israel following 12 hours later. A full end to hostilities was to be declared at the 24-hour mark.
On Monday, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions following US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday.
The US attacks came as part of a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran that began on June 13 and prompted Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.�
