EU Sounds Alarm Over Prolonged War in Middle East

(MENAFN) European Council President Antonio Costa on Monday issued a stark warning over the deepening Middle East crisis, calling on the world to prioritize dialogue as US and Israeli strikes on Iran continue to send shockwaves far beyond the region's borders.

"The EU is gravely concerned over the prolongation of the war and its increasing global impact," Costa wrote on X, the US-based social media platform, following a direct phone call with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Costa extended a diplomatic gesture toward Islamabad, wishing Pakistan "all the best" for its active peace efforts before reaffirming the bloc's commitment to a negotiated resolution.

"The EU supports all mediation efforts. Only dialogue and diplomacy can bring peace and stability back to the Middle East, in full respect of the UN Charter and international law," Costa added.

The remarks come as regional hostilities continue to rage with no sign of abating. The current cycle of violence was ignited on February 28, when Israel and the US launched a joint offensive against Iran that has since claimed more than 1,340 lives, including that of then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has mounted sustained retaliatory strikes using drones and missiles, targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states that host US military assets. The campaign has inflicted casualties, battered critical infrastructure, and sent turbulence rippling through global aviation networks and financial markets — underscoring Costa's warning of an increasingly worldwide impact.

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