Germany is holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Iran. The European Union is withdrawing some of its employees from the region.
The United States and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran, and US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over their government” – an unusual appeal that suggested they were seeking to end the country’s democracy after decades of conflict.
It is unclear whether US allies were given any warning before the attacks. The German government said it was only informed of the attacks on Saturday morning. The French defense minister said France knew something was going to happen, but did not know when.
In response to this attack, the senior diplomat of the European Union called the war in the Middle East “dangerous” and said that he is working with the Israeli and Arab authorities for peace talks.
“The Iranian regime has killed thousands of people. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, along with support for terrorist groups, pose a serious threat to international security,” Kaja Kallas, the foreign policy chief of the 27-nation bloc, said in a post on social media.
“The European Union is also closely coordinating with Arab partners to find diplomatic solutions.” She said the EU is keeping some staff in the region by maintaining a naval mission in the Red Sea. The European Union recently imposed new sanctions on Iran and its leading figures, prompting retaliatory sanctions from Tehran.
The German government said it was monitoring the situation in Iran, Israel and the wider Middle East after being informed of the Israeli attacks on Saturday morning. The German government’s crisis management team is scheduled to discuss the situation in Iran this afternoon.
Chancellor Friedrich Meerz was already consulting ministers and European partners on security matters.
The German government has asked German citizens in Iran, Israel and the wider region to participate in the official registration system for citizens abroad and to follow the instructions of local authorities regarding the necessary measures to protect themselves.
France, which has military bases and a regular presence in the Middle East, is calling on French citizens in the region to exercise caution.
“There is a military conflict going on … this is not the time to negotiate, we are in a state of war,” Defense Minister Alice Rufus told France-2 television on Saturday.
“Our priority is protecting our citizens and protecting our forces in the region,” she said.
Asked whether French forces were involved in the US and Israeli attacks or were targeted in counter-attacks, French army spokesman Colonel Guillaume Vernet said on Saturday: “The French armed forces are constantly adapting their position to threats and implementing measures to ensure the surveillance and protection of military installations where French troops are stationed.”
He would not elaborate.
“Our military presence ensures France’s independent assessment of the situation,” he told the AP.
The Italian government has asked Italians to be very careful and follow the instructions given by their embassies in the region. Prime Minister Georgia Maloney’s office said the prime minister would be in contact with allies and leaders in the region in the next few hours to “support any measures that could lead to a reduction in violence.”
“Italy reiterates its support to Iranian civilians, who are courageously demanding respect for their civil and political rights,” Meloni’s office said.
Switzerland called for full respect of international laws and asked all parties to exercise maximum tolerance, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
