Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has criticised Europe’s tentative approach to the Iran war, calling for a harder response as the conflict spreads across the Middle East.
Speaking to Euronews on the sidelines of a crunch EU summit on 19 March, Daniel Meron said, “We hear a lot of calls on diplomacy from the Europeans, but I think this is not the time for diplomacy, this is a time to really end diplomacy and to start seeing a change in Iran.”
He added that his country feels supported by the US. “We definitely do not feel alone; the United States and Israel are in this war together, and we have a lot of support internationally,” he said.
Meron’s remarks come as the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has spilt out into the wider region, approaches its fourth week.
His stance echoes that of US President Donald Trump, a staunch ally and defender of Israel, who has been a vocal critic of European countries’ perceived inaction during the war on Iran.
The US-Israeli offensive started on 28 February and has so far targeted and killed some 40 high-ranking Iranian leaders, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel has separately vowed to eliminate the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah, launching a vast offensive in Lebanon. More than a million people have been displaced as a result — around one-fifth of the total population — and the death toll has surpassed 1,000.
Iran has retaliated by hitting neighbouring Gulf countries, home to US and European military bases. It is also sending missiles and drones to Israel, most of which have been intercepted and downed. So far, 18 Israelis have been killed. On 2 March, an Iranian drone hit a British military base in Cyprus, causing minor damage.
Trump has branded Europe and NATO allies as “one-way street” partners for refusing to commit warships to defend the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route to the south of Iran, including for 20% of the world’s total oil supply. Tehran has blocked it in recent days, throwing global markets into turmoil and pushing up energy prices.
In the interview, Meron also warned that Europe is as much in danger from Iran as the Iranian people themselves and the wider Middle East.
“What about them shooting towards Europe, towards Cyprus, towards Türkiye?” he told Euronews. “Why do we not hear people saying to Iran, stop terrorising your own people, the region, stop trying to stop the oil going through the Strait of Hormuz?
“It’s about time that this regime is weakened in a way that the people can say what they want for their own future,” Meron added. “It’s no time for Israel to decide what their future is. Definitely, this regime of terror must go.”
Meron’s comments were made as part of a Euronews Special Report following a crucial EU summit centred on the war in Ukraine, as well as that in the Middle East.
You can watch the full interview in the video player above.