"There Should Be Absolutely No Question That Iran Must Never Possess Nuclear Weapons" — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Ottawa, June 16, 2025 — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Sunday that there should be no possibility whatsoever for Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and that there is no room for doubt on this matter. While she emphasized that diplomacy remains the most appropriate path regarding Iran, she stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Von der Leyen held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after which she said:
“We agreed that Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons — this is absolutely unacceptable.”
She also accused Iran of failing to cooperate with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). According to her, Iran is not working properly with UN inspectors, which she said justifies Israel’s right to self-defense.
Previously, von der Leyen had criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza. However, in this latest statement, she directly called Iran “the main source of instability in the region.”
Von der Leyen is currently attending the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, where the rising tensions between Israel and Iran are high on the agenda, along with Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
She added,
“The same type of Iranian-manufactured drones and ballistic missiles are being indiscriminately launched at cities in both Ukraine and Israel. We believe such threats must be tackled collectively and in a coordinated manner.”
Through these remarks, the European Commission has clarified its firm stance against Iran and underscored the importance of security and diplomatic resolution across the region.
