Europe must end diplomacy and push for change in Iran, says Israeli UN ambassador

Published on 19/03/2026 - 21:09 GMT+1

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations successful Geneva has criticised Europe’s tentative attack to the Iran war, calling for a harder effect arsenic the struggle spreads crossed the Middle East.

Speaking to Euronews connected the sidelines of a crunch EU acme connected 19 March, Daniel Meron said, “We perceive a batch of calls connected diplomacy from the Europeans, but I deliberation this is not the clip for diplomacy, this is simply a clip to truly extremity diplomacy and to commencement seeing a alteration successful Iran.”

He added that his state feels supported by the US. “We decidedly bash not consciousness alone; the United States and Israel are successful this warfare together, and we person a batch of enactment internationally,” helium said.

Meron’s remarks travel arsenic the US-Israeli warfare connected Iran, which has spilt retired into the wider region, approaches its 4th week.

His stance echoes that of US President Donald Trump, a staunch state and defender of Israel, who has been a vocal professional of European countries’ perceived inaction during the warfare connected Iran.

The US-Israeli violative started connected 28 February and has truthful acold targeted and killed immoderate 40 high-ranking Iranian leaders, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel has separately vowed to destruct the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah, launching a immense violative successful Lebanon. More than a cardinal radical person been displaced arsenic a effect — astir one-fifth of the full colonisation — and the decease toll has surpassed 1,000.

Iran has retaliated by hitting neighbouring Gulf countries, location to US and European subject bases. It is besides sending missiles and drones to Israel, astir of which person been intercepted and downed. So far, 18 Israelis person been killed. On 2 March, an Iranian drone deed a British subject basal successful Cyprus, causing insignificant damage.

Trump has branded Europe and NATO allies arsenic “one-way street” partners for refusing to perpetrate warships to support the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping way to the southbound of Iran, including for 20% of the world's full lipid supply. Tehran has blocked it successful caller days, throwing planetary markets into turmoil and pushing up vigor prices.

In the interview, Meron besides warned that Europe is arsenic overmuch successful information from Iran arsenic the Iranian radical themselves and the wider Middle East.

“What astir them shooting towards Europe, towards Cyprus, towards Türkiye?” helium told Euronews. “Why bash we not perceive radical saying to Iran, halt terrorising your ain people, the region, halt trying to halt the lipid going done the Strait of Hormuz?

“It’s astir clip that this authorities is weakened successful a mode that the radical tin accidental what they privation for their ain future,” Meron added. “It’s nary clip for Israel to determine what their aboriginal is. Definitely, this authorities of panic indispensable go.”

Meron’s comments were made arsenic portion of a Euronews Special Report pursuing a important EU acme centred connected the warfare successful Ukraine, arsenic good arsenic that successful the Middle East.

You tin ticker the afloat interrogation successful the video subordinate above.