Europe A Non-Player As US, Israel Set The Tone On Iran

2025-07-16 08:11:49

(MENAFN- Asia Times) The US bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, 2025, sent shock waves around the world .

It marked a dramatic reversal for the Trump administration, which had just initiated negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program. Dispensing with diplomacy, the U.S. opted for the first time for direct military involvement in the then-ongoing Israeli-Iranian conflict .

European governments have long pushed for a diplomatic solution to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Yet, the reaction in the capitals of Europe to the US bombing of the nuclear facilities was surprisingly subdued.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted Israel's“right to defend itself and protect its people .” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was equally supportive, arguing that“this is dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us .” And a joint statement by the E3 – France, the UK and Germany – tacitly justified the US bombing as necessary to prevent the possibility of Iran developing nuclear weapons.

Europe's responses to the Israeli and American strikes were noteworthy because of how little they discussed the legality of the attacks . There was no such hesitation when Russia targeted civilian nuclear energy infrastructure in Ukraine in 2022 .

But the timid reaction also underscored Europe's bystander role, contrasting with its past approach on that topic. Iran's nuclear program had been a key focal point of European diplomacy for years. The E3 nations initiated negotiations with Tehran back in 2003 .

They also helped to facilitate the signing of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which also included Russia, the European Union, China, the US and Iran. And the Europeans sought to preserve the agreement , even after the unilateral US withdrawal in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term.

As a scholar of transatlantic relations and security , I believe Europe faces long odds to once again play an impactful role in strengthening the cause of nuclear nonproliferation with Iran.

Indeed, contributing to a new nuclear agreement with Iran would require Europe to fix a major rift with Tehran, overcome its internal divisions over the Middle East and manage a Trump administration that seems less intent on being a reliable ally for Europe .

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