European Council President Antonio Costa, in a message to the “X” platform, refers to the situation in the Middle East, condemning Iran’s targeting of civilian infrastructure and energy facilities and stressing that it is “illegal and unacceptable”. It also urges Iran to immediately end its attacks against countries in the region and restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The full post by Antonio Costa is as follows:

“After five weeks of war in the Middle East, it is clear that only a diplomatic solution will settle its root causes. Any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable. This applies to Russia’s war in Ukraine and applies everywhere. The Iranian civilian population is the main victim of the Iranian regime. They would also be the main victim of an expansion of the military campaign. As I stressed in my recent telephone conversation with the President of Iran, Massoud Pezzeskian, the European Union urges Iran to immediately end its attacks on countries in the region and to allow the restoration of full freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Escalation will not bring about a ceasefire and peace. Only negotiations will do so, that is, ongoing efforts led by regional partners.”