Not all EU member states agree that Israel’s recent strike on Iran was in accordance with international law. These divisions were highlighted by ambassadors who met in Brussels on Thursday ahead of next week’s summit.
According to sources from Euronews, disagreements over the justification for Israel’s attack on Iran last Friday have surfaced among ambassadors in Brussels, hindering the EU’s efforts to formulate a unified response to the crisis.
“This is definitely a topic of discussion,” one source said. “The extent to which the right to self-defense is acceptable is being debated.”
In a statement on Saturday, the EU had called on “all parties to respect international law, show restraint, and avoid actions that could lead to severe consequences, such as a potential radioactive leak.”
No agreement on “Israel’s right to self-defense”
Sources close to the discussions revealed that a significant portion of the negotiations among member states focused on whether the EU should use the phrase “Israel has the right to self-defense” in the context of its strikes against Iran.
Approximately 15 member states, including Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands, pushed for the inclusion of this phrase, but unanimity could not be reached.
Other countries believe there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that Israel has the right to launch an attack against Iran under international law. According to international law and the UN Charter, a state may exercise its right to self-defense in the event of an armed attack or the threat of one, and any necessary measures must be proportional.
Israel has stated that it conducted a series of preemptive strikes to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
A draft of the summit conclusions seen by Euronews contains no statement on the European Council’s position regarding the Israel-Iran conflict.
Von der Leyen’s stance surprises some countries
Meanwhile, EU sources told Euronews they were “surprised” by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s tweet, which seemed to offer tacit support for Israel’s attacks on Tehran.
Her message went further than the agreed-upon statement from the European Council, the EU body responsible for conducting foreign policy.
“I spoke with President Herzog about the escalating situation in the Middle East,” Ursula von der Leyen tweeted. “I reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and protect its people.”
Another diplomatic source speaking to Euronews noted, “There was no consensus that Israel has the right to self-defense, but von der Leyen said it anyway. She saw the agreed-upon text and then made her own statement. Frankly, it was very disappointing.”
The same source argued that countries like Iran, “no matter how bad they are,” will not “simply bow down” when attacked in this manner. They also warned that even if there were a regime change in Iran, what follows could be “much worse.”
“And then, when two or three million Iranians show up at Europe’s doorstep, they will say we cannot handle this migration crisis,” the source added.
Another diplomat mentioned that member states critical of Israel believe its strikes on Iran were irresponsible, although a large group agreed with von der Leyen’s statement.
Kaja Kallas calls for de-escalation
When asked whether their governments considered the conflict against Iran to be within the provisions of international law, the diplomat replied, “That is a legal question; there is no decision yet.”
Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated in a post on X that Israel’s “suspicions do not constitute an imminent threat” and that its attack on nuclear facilities was illegal under international law.
Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, reiterated the EU’s official position in favor of a diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Iran conflict. Calling on all parties to “respect international law and de-escalate,” Kallas also wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, “Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with international law.”
Three major European powers to meet with Iran
The three major European powers—Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—announced they will hold a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva today (June 20).
Among the three major Western European powers, Germany has been the most vocal in its support for Israel, stating that the offensive against Iran falls under the “right to self-defense.” Chancellor Merz even said that in the war, which has claimed over 500 lives as of yesterday, Israel is “doing all of our dirty work.”
Merz rejects all claims that the invasion is a clear violation of international law. In an interview at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, on Tuesday, he expressed “great respect for the Israeli army” and “respect for the Israeli leadership that showed the courage to do this.”
Berlin’s position aligns with that of the US and Israel. In fact, Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, openly defended the words used by Merz (“dirty work”), stating that the chancellor “clearly expressed the realities in the Middle East with his choice of words.”
While the EU remains divided, French President Emmanuel Macron continues his efforts to persuade Iran to sign a new nuclear deal. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has scheduled a meeting in Geneva today. The meeting will be attended by Johann Wadephul from Germany and David Lammy from the UK, as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has also been invited.
Merz allegedly urged Netanyahu to “soften attacks”
According to a Reuters report, Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging “restraint” in Israel’s military campaign against Iran.
The source indicated that during the call on Wednesday evening, Merz stated that Germany supports Israel’s military strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in principle but emphasized the importance of finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Sources also reported that Merz and Netanyahu discussed the situation in Gaza during the phone call. The German government has called on Israel to adhere to “international law” in its war in Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and aid restrictions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.
In a separate conversation, Merz agreed with the Emir of Qatar that the conflict should not spread to the wider region, pointing to the Geneva talks in this context.
Trump’s hesitation could open a window for Europe
Some believe that US President Donald Trump’s ambivalent stance on a US attack on Iran could work to Europe’s advantage.
“Something is holding Trump back,” a European diplomat told POLITICO.
The diplomat pointed out that although Trump has said the US is ready to join Israel’s military strikes, nothing has happened so far. “There is an opportunity here,” the diplomat said, adding, “We should not underestimate how much Trump hates war.”
John Sawers, former head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service, MI6, said Trump would prefer that Israel not initiate a direct war with Iran.
“Here was an opportunity that Trump really didn’t want,” Sawers said at a conference hosted by the Chatham House think tank in London.
“Just a week ago, he had called on Israel to give more time for negotiations, but Netanyahu refused, and Trump basically went along with Israel’s approach,” Sawers said. He added that Israel has now put the world in a situation that “enrages Iran,” and it would be better for the US to step in to finish the job.
However, other well-connected officials and diplomats in the E3 do not share this view, fearing that direct US involvement could escalate the conflict into a full-scale regional war.
According to an official from one of the E3 countries, the goal of restarting negotiations with Iran was to secure a guarantee that Tehran would use its nuclear program for civilian purposes only. “The negotiations were at that exact point… but they were derailed by Israel’s actions,” the official said.