People wave flags next to an Iranian missile on display during the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, February 10, 2025. (Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS)
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who visited Israel on Monday, told Israeli media that preventing the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons is the EU’s “main objective” in the Middle East.
“Our main objective is that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon,” Kallas told the Israeli news outlet Ynet. She also expressed concerns about the close military alliance between Iran and Russia, describing the Iranian regime as a destabilizing actor.
“We clearly see what they are doing – not only in the Middle East, but also in helping Russia and conducting hybrid attacks against European countries. Our policies must be stronger,” Kallas said.
During her first official visit to Israel, Kallas met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and opposition leader Yair Lapid. She also met families of Israeli hostages and visited Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center in Jerusalem.
A top Israeli cyber official revealed on Tuesday that Iranian and Hezbollah cyber attacks against Israel had increased by 300% since the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack. However, senior Israeli cyber officials warn that they have become a global threat.
During her visit to Israel, Kallas stated that there is a “window of opportunity” to reduce the Iranian threat, noting that the ayatollah regime is weaker than it has been in the past.
Tehran’s current vulnerability is attributed to several factors, including a weakened Iranian economy, the decline of the pro-ayatollah Assad regime in Syria, and Israel’s successful strikes against Iran’s main terrorist proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. In addition, a major Israeli Air Force operation in late October severely damaged Iranian aerial defenses and missile capabilities.
Kallas, who also serves as vice president of the European Commission, revealed that there are ongoing European efforts to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a de facto terrorist organization. However, she admitted the efforts were hampered by disagreements between various EU member states. “The discussions are ongoing,” Kallas confirmed, adding “but EU foreign and security policy decisions require unanimity.”
Turning to the war in Gaza, Kallas emphasized that the EU remains committed to the internationally favored two-state solution.
“The Palestinian Authority is the best-suited entity to govern,” she argued. “They need reforms, especially to root out corruption, and we are pressing them to do that. But alongside Israel’s security, the rights of Palestinians must be respected.”
She further stressed the need for reconstructing Gaza without Hamas and appeared to oppose the idea of Gazan emigration to EU countries.
“Migration is a major issue for many EU countries. It’s important that Palestinians can remain where they are and that no one is forced to leave their home,” she argued.
Kallas then criticized Israel’s military strikes against terrorists in Syria.
“This clearly doesn’t help. Right now, Syrians are focused on stabilizing their country. We feel they are not a direct threat to Israel,” she stated.
Kallas concluded by stressing a desire to improve diplomatic relations between the EU member states and Israel.
“We want to have good relations with Israel,” she argued. “I hope this visit is a milestone in that direction,” Kallas added.
During the tenure of her predecessor, Josep Borrell, relations between the EU and Israel deteriorated sharply due to his hostility toward Israel. Last November, Borrell argued that the EU should suspend its dialogue with Israel due to the Gaza War. However, this proposal never materialized.
