Greens/EFA urge immediate ceasefire in Iran war

The Greens/EFA Group is deeply concerned by the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East resulting from the use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran and Iran’s retaliation across the region. This war risks leading to a military escalation in the broader Middle East, wherein civilians will suffer the most. We urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities, de-escalate, respect international law, notably the UN Charter and settle differences diplomatically.

MEP Bas Eickhout, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group, comments:

“Trump and Netanyahu's attack on Iran puts us all in danger. Peace and security cannot be brought about by brutal force. The regional escalation has now put millions of lives at risk.

“The EU's refusal to stand up against Trump to defend the international rule-based order is a mistake and will only risk being dragged into another illegal war. All parties, including the US, Iran and Israel, should immediately cease hostilities. Europe’s focus should be on enforcement of international law so the rule of law is no longer replaced by the rules of force and brutality.”

MEP Hannah Neumann, European Parliament’s Chair of the Delegation for relations with Iran, comments:

“We support the people in Iran in and in the diaspora in their wish for a peaceful and democratic transition. Such a transition cannot be imposed from the outside and must reflect the Iranian opposition in all its diversity.

“The Iranian regime has consistently violated international law by brutally repressing its population for 47 years, leading proxy wars across the region and insisting on developing a nuclear programme. Yet, past military escalations and violence in the Middle East have rarely led to good outcomes. The current war initiated by the USA and Israel is against international law. The ongoing escalation in the Middle East shows how quickly international law is eroding and how dangerous such erosion can be.

“The European Union, together with its partners in the Gulf, must act as the voice of restraint, placing the protection of civilians and the cessation of further violence and retaliatory spirals at the core of its policy.”