The European Union President and the Italian Foreign Minister call for restraint after the Iranian attack
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a press conference at Lappeenranta Airport in eastern Finland on April 19. (Photo credit: Antti Emo-Koivisto/Lehtikova/Reuters)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for restraint in the wake of the attack on Iran.
A US official told CNN that Israel carried out the attack on Friday. The Israeli army did not comment, and Iran did not specify the source of the attack.
Tajani told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers' summit in Italy that “diplomatic efforts” were already underway between EU and G7 members to calm tensions in the region in the wake of the attack.
He added: “We ask everyone to be careful to avoid escalation in the region,” reiterating Italy's call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
EU President von der Leyen also called for a de-escalation, saying it was “absolutely essential” for the Middle East to remain “stable”, and urged all parties to “refrain from taking further action.”
“We must do everything in our power to ensure that all parties refrain from escalation in that region,” von der Leyen stressed during a visit to Finland on Friday.
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