On 1 April 2024, Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus. In this attack, Israel killed at least 13 people, including two generals from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). A point of note is that any attack on consular premises violates the Charter of the United Nations.
Then, on Saturday, 13 April 2024, Iran attacked Israeli territory with 300 drones and missiles, targeting Israeli bases. This attack was in retaliation to the Israeli strike from the Golan Heights. Iran’s massive aerial attack is the first direct attack by Iran on Israeli territory from Iranian soil (European Parliament). Now, following the assassination of the Hamas leader in Tehran, the UK and its allies are calling on Iran and other supporters of Gaza to avoid attacking Israel. What do European diplomatic efforts on the Israel-Iran conflict intend to achieve?
Attacks threaten regional security
The UK and its allies state that European diplomatic efforts on the Israel-Iran conflict aim to reduce tension. According to the European Parliament, these attacks threaten the region’s security and affect peaceful coexistence within other countries, including EU Member States.
As Euronews states, tensions in the Middle East increased after Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Iran. Besides, one of Hezbollah’s senior commanders died in an Israeli strike in Beirut.
The stance of Western countries on Middle East conflicts
Some may think that European diplomatic efforts on the Israel-Iran conflict aim to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. According to Euronews, France, Germany, and the UK have issued a joint statement on the situation in the Middle East. They have called on Iran and its allies to “refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.” The statement comes following days of growing tensions between Israel, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. It said Iran and its allies “will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability.”
Aljazeera states that the leaders of the US, the UK, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement. The statement expressed their “support for ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions” in the Middle East. Moreover, they supported efforts to secure a ceasefire in the war on Gaza. Analysts told Al Jazeera that the killings have been blamed on Israel. Furthermore, these killings could affect prospects for a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza.
European diplomatic efforts on the Israel-Iran conflict: Call for ceasefire
European diplomatic efforts on the Israel-Iran conflict seem to aim to make a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the Times of Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a joint statement. They reaffirm their commitment both to Israel’s security and to achieving a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. In a joint statement, they summarised the discussions during a US-UK Strategic Dialogue in London last week. The two diplomats emphasised their support for Israel’s security during the talks. They also underlined the importance of avoiding any escalatory action in the region, which would weaken the prospect of peace and progress towards a two-state solution.
According to Business Standard, the heads of the American CIA and British MI6 said Saturday (14 September 2024) that they are working ceaselessly for a ceasefire in Gaza, using a rare joint public statement to press for peace. CIA Director William Burns and MI6 Chief Richard Moore said their agencies had exploited intelligence channels to push for de-escalation.
Are Western countries honest?
The UK and the US did not make efforts for a ceasefire before Israel massacred about 40,000 Palestinian civilians. These two governments supported Israel by providing military aid. Thus, the UK is politically complicit in the genocide, given its support of the Israeli army.
British Ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed solidarity with his Israeli counterpart and emphasised UK support for Israel’s “right to defend” itself. Surprisingly, Rishi Sunak considered the Israeli massacre of Palestinian civilians and the destruction of schools, hospitals and civilians’ homes as “Israel’s right to defend itself.” As Declassified UK says, UK military support for Israel’s genocide was a pre-planned decision.
European diplomatic efforts on the Israel-Iran conflict are attempts to defend Israel’s security after the massacre of 40,000 Palestinian civilians. After the assassination of the Hamas leader in Tehran, there is a more significant threat to Israel’s security. In other words, there is a risk of Iran and pro-Palestinian countries responding to the Israeli killing of the Hamas leader. This is why the UK and its allies are calling on Iran to refrain from retaliation. The UK government aims to push for de-escalation to ensure the security of Israel rather than to stop the massacre of Palestinian civilians. This indicates the UK government’s dishonesty and use of cruel double standards.
Iran has the right to respond.
According to Aljazeera, Keir Starmer and Scholz held separate phone calls with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. The UK and German governments said. Starmer asked Pezeshkian to refrain from attacking Israel. Similarly, Scholz appealed to President Pezeshkian to do everything possible to prevent further military escalations. As Aljazeera states, Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, published a statement following the phone call with Scholz, Pezeshkian. The statement said: “While emphasising diplomatic solutions to issues, Iran will never give in to pressure, sanctions, and bullying and considers it has the right to respond to aggressors by international norms.”
