From our correspondent in Tehran: Iran sees Europe as marginal, only US counts
Europe’s role in Middle Eastern diplomacy has shrunk in recent years. Iranian officials and analysts now dismiss European influence as minimal, focusing instead on the United States. Despite sanctions and political statements, Tehran sees Washington as the only power shaping its strategic decisions.
Historically, Europe maintained strong ties with Iran. But its credibility weakened after the Arab Spring and the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018. Since then, Iranian leaders have viewed European capitals as secondary players in regional security.
Recent events have reinforced this perception. In 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly supported Israel’s actions against Iran, further diminishing Europe’s standing. Iranian journalist Reza Marashi compared Europe’s role to that of a village chief—symbolic but ineffective. Even calls for regime change from figures like Guy Verhofstadt and Matteo Renzi have failed to sway Tehran.
Iran’s strategy now centres on strengthening its position to force the US back to negotiations. Direct confrontations with Washington have not shifted this focus. Iranian officials repeatedly stress that only the US can influence key security outcomes, leaving Europe on the sidelines.
Tehran continues to prioritise engagement with Washington over European diplomacy. Statements and sanctions from European leaders have done little to alter Iran’s calculations. For now, the US remains the sole actor capable of shaping Iran’s strategic direction.
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