Iran warns Europe it will “pay the price” if it stays silent

Tehran accuses Western countries of ignoring what it calls a violation of international law after the U.S.–Israel attack, while divisions emerge inside the European Union

Iran warns Europe it will “pay the price” if it stays silent over what Tehran describes as a violation of international law following the joint military action by the United States and Israel.

The warning came from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei during an interview with Spanish broadcaster TVE’s channel 24 Horas. According to Baghaei, any country that fails to condemn the attack risks becoming complicit.

“Those who remain silent will be accomplices of this injustice,” Baghaei said. “What is expected from European countries is that they break their silence, because this is an injustice against all civilizations and against a nation.” He added that no member of the United Nations should remain indifferent.

Iran warns Europe it will “pay the price” if it stays silent at a time of escalating tensions in the region following the U.S.–Israeli strikes that triggered the current conflict. Tehran insists it is acting in self-defense after being targeted by what it calls an unjust war.

Asked about reports linking Iran to drone launches against a British military base in Cyprus, Baghaei denied responsibility. “We are victims of attacks in an unjust war and we are defending ourselves,” he said. The spokesman also accused Washington of using neighboring countries as staging areas for military operations against Iran.

Baghaei stressed that Tehran has no intention of attacking countries in the region. “We are committed to maintaining good relations with our Arab Muslim neighbors,” he said, arguing instead that regional territories are being used by the United States for logistics and missile operations against Iran. He also rejected accusations that Iran launched missiles toward Turkey.

Iran warns Europe it will “pay the price” if it stays silent as diplomatic divisions become increasingly visible among Western governments. A joint statement issued after a meeting between European Union foreign ministers and the Gulf Cooperation Council—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—did not mention the United States or Israel even once.

The omission appears to reflect differing positions on the joint military action, which Washington and Tel Aviv described as a preventive operation. The strikes reportedly led to the death of several senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had been accused internationally of responsibility for violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged before the meeting that reaching a common statement between the EU and the Gulf countries was even more complicated than finding consensus among the EU’s 27 member states.

A previous declaration released after a video conference among EU foreign ministers also avoided referencing the United States and Israel, highlighting internal divisions within the bloc. Spain openly condemned the military action, while several other European governments adopted a more cautious stance.

Kallas, however, sharply criticized Iran’s response to the conflict. She accused Tehran of trying to widen the war across the region.

“Tehran is exporting the war, trying to extend it to as many countries as possible to spread chaos,” Kallas said. She added that many of the drones used in Middle Eastern attacks are similar to those deployed against Ukraine.

According to Kallas, Ukraine has developed effective interception systems that could help Gulf countries counter drone threats. European officials are now examining how such technologies could be shared to strengthen regional defenses.

The EU’s top diplomat also noted that political change in authoritarian systems often comes from internal pressure rather than external military action. “Usually regimes collapse from within, not because of external attacks,” she said, adding that the current situation has significantly weakened the Iranian leadership and could offer the Iranian people an opportunity to shape their future.

Despite the tensions, both the European Union and Gulf countries reiterated their support for international law and regional stability.

“Our common vision is that we want stability in the region,” Kallas said. “We want this war not to spread further, and we want respect for international law.”

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