This picture shows a building damaged in an Israeli strike on Tehran. AFP
“The leaders discussed the long-held grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, and called on all sides to refrain from further escalation that could further destabilise the region,” the statement said.
They reaffirmed Israel’s so-called “right to self-defence”, despite Israel having initiated the latest round of aggression. The statement added that “a diplomatic resolution, rather than military action, was the way forward.”
The remarks came hours after Israel launched coordinated strikes on multiple sites across Iran, targeting a key nuclear facility and killing senior military and scientific officials, according to Iranian state media.
Separately, Italy’s foreign minister on Friday urged both Tehran and Tel Aviv to return to the negotiating table, despite Israel continuing its strikes across Iran.
The UK, France and Germany – collectively known as the E3 – have long supported negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activities. But tensions have escalated in recent months, with the three European powers intensifying diplomatic pressure and questioning Iran’s intentions.
Earlier this year, the E3 accused Iran of accelerating uranium enrichment without sufficient transparency and criticised its lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iranian officials have rejected the claims as politically motivated and one-sided, accusing the E3 of manufacturing consent for war following the IAEA’s June declaration that Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations — the first such finding in nearly two decades.
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