EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said she spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about the “situation in the Gulf, as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine, which Moscow has further intensified in recent days”.

“In the Gulf, the reprieve from fighting can buy mediators time to find a way back to diplomacy and prevent a return to full-scale war,” she said in a post on the social media platform X.

“I made it clear that the aggression against French diplomats in Tehran is unacceptable. All EU member states have condemned these actions,” she added. She added that it was also encouraging that the Ukrainian foreign minister spoke to Araghchi to “reduce tensions”.

“I reiterated my call on Iran to end its military support for Russia. Moscow is inflicting ever higher numbers of civilian casualties in Ukraine, and any supplies it receives are helping it kill more civilians. Ukraine has the right to defend itself,” she said.