The consensus among EU countries that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons is "enormous", also says Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (The Moderate Party) on her way to Monday's EU meeting in Brussels.
–We share the concern that the US and many others have that Iran has not cooperated sufficiently with the UN's atomic energy agency IAEA and that they have enriched to 60 percent, which there is no civilian reason to do, says the Foreign Minister.
"Dangerous development"
She does not, however, want to outright say that the EU is openly backing the US.
–It is an incredibly serious situation. The violent development we are now seeing must be stopped and we need to get back to the negotiating table, says Malmer Stenergard.
The Foreign Affairs Chief warns at his press conference after the meeting that military actions "are always filled with risks and uncertainty".
–The new war is a dangerous development. Iran has been a threat for decades and the EU has always said that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, says Kallas.
New sanctions
The situation in Ukraine was also discussed at the meeting of foreign ministers and the EU's hope of being able to gather around an 18th sanctions package.
However, Hungary says a sharp no – this time citing that they do not like another EU proposal aimed at phasing out Russian energy by the end of 2027.
Kallas is still optimistic.
–That Hungary is blocking a sanctions package is something we have seen before. Let's see what compromises we need to make this time, says the Foreign Affairs Chief.
