Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani took part in an extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting convened by High Representative Kaja Kallas to discuss the crisis in Iran and the situation in the region.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting provided an opportunity to review three aspects: support for de-escalation efforts; the safety and security of Iranian citizens; and management of the economic consequences of the conflict.
The Foreign Minister noted that the death of the Iranian leader marks a historic and highly sensitive turning point for Iran: all efforts need to focus on a peaceful transition for the country and the stability of the entire Middle East. “We must not forget the courage of the Iranian people and civil society in their fight for freedom and democracy,” Minister Tajani said.
The Minister also recalled that the European Union has sent a strong political message in recent weeks by deciding to sanction the Pasdaran as a terrorist organization.
Minister Tajani then endorsed the decision to create a “Gulf Task Force” to coordinate requests for assistance from Italians in the region and the many telephone calls with partners in the region.
The Ministers also discussed the potential economic consequences of the conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for international trade.
Minister Tajani reaffirmed the role played by EU operations, starting with the ASPIDES mission, and stated that a resurgence of attacks on merchant ships by the Houthis, besides having an impacting on commercial traffic, would further slow the process of gradual normalization initiated with the truce in the Gaza Strip.
