The European Union is stepping up diplomatic outreach as tensions escalate in the Middle East, with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas holding a phone call on Sunday with Iran’s

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, according to an EU official.

The conversation is part of a broader push by the European Union to engage key regional and global players. Kallas also spoke separately with counterparts from Turkey, Qatar, and South Korea. Discussions focused on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, recent attacks on critical energy infrastructure, and the urgent need to ensure the reopening and security of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

An EU official emphasized that these diplomatic efforts are aimed at finding pathways to de-escalation. “Fresh threats targeting civilian infrastructure could have devastating consequences, potentially affecting millions of people both within the region and globally,” the official warned.

This latest round of talks follows a previous conversation between Kallas and Araqchi earlier in the week, where the EU highlighted the importance of maintaining safe and uninterrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for global energy supplies.

The EU’s intensified engagement underscores growing international concern over the potential economic and humanitarian fallout if the situation continues to deteriorate. Phoro by European Parliament, Wikimedia commons.