BRUSSELS

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed on Monday their commitment to regional stability and called for the protection of civilians amid the ongoing escalation in the Middle East.

Costa and von der Leyen, during a video conference with the heads of state and government from Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Türkiye, Armenia, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, reiterated their condemnation of Iran's attacks in "the strongest terms" and underlined the EU's full solidarity with the affected nations and peoples of the region.

"The European Union is a long-standing, reliable partner for the region in these difficult moments and is ready to contribute in every possible way to help deescalate the situation and facilitate the return to the negotiating table," they said in a statement following the video conference.

Costa and von der Leyen described the video conference as a "manifestation of solidarity and diplomatic outreach," building on previous contacts since the crisis began.

"Although the international rules-based order is under stress, we firmly believe that dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable way forward," the statement noted.

The EU leadership reiterated its consistent stance on Iran's activities, calling on Tehran to end its nuclear program and curb its ballistic missile developments, and denounced the repression and violence against Iranian citizens.

"The Presidents (of the EU Commission and EU Council) reaffirmed their commitment to regional stability and called for the protection of civilians and full respect for international law, international humanitarian law and the obligation to abide by the principles of the United Nations Charter," the statement said.

They pointed to the importance of maritime defensive operations Aspides and Atalanta aimed at securing critical sea lanes and preventing disruption to global supply chains, and signaled willingness to further enhance these missions, it added.

Expressing deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, exacerbated by the crisis, the EU presidents also called for respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Leaders in the video conference exchanged analyses of the regional situation and discussed the impact of attacks on energy infrastructure, including risks posed by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and exploring ways to deepen cooperation with Middle Eastern partners to enhance energy security.

They agreed to remain in close contact to follow developments and work together towards peace, the statement added.

The development came amid the ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran, launched on Feb. 28, which have killed more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets​​​​​​​.