EU chief on Iran war: ‘Freedom cannot be achieved through bombs’
European Council President António Costa urged a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and warned that Russia has so far been the only beneficiary of the war.
“The European Union stands with the long-suffering people of Iran. We support their right to live in peace and determine their own future,” Costa said on Tuesday at an annual meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels.
“Freedom and human rights cannot be achieved through bombs. Only international law upholds them,” Costa said.
The protection of civilians and nuclear safety is crucial, he said, urging that further escalation must be avoided.
Turning to the wider consequences of the raging conflict, Costa said that “so far, there is only one winner in this war: Russia.”
The war in Iran “steadily undermines Ukraine’s position by flouting international law,” he said, alluding to concerns that US and Israeli strikes on Iran could violate it.
Moscow “gains new resources to finance its war against Ukraine as energy prices rise,” Costa said.
“It profits from the diversion of military capabilities that could otherwise have been sent to support Ukraine. And it benefits from the reduced attention to the Ukrainian front as the conflict in the Middle East takes centre stage.”
