From Trump’s “you will live hell” to European containment: Costa pressures Iran over Hormuz

The president of the European Council, António Costa, has redoubled this Monday the pressure on Tehran by demanding the immediate cessation of attacks in the region and the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, at a time of maximum tension after more than five weeks of conflict in the Middle East.

In a message disseminated on social media, Costa has defended that “only a diplomatic solution” will allow addressing the deep causes of the crisis, while warning that the current spiral of violence “will achieve neither a ceasefire nor peace”. The European leader has insisted that the military path will only aggravate an already volatile scenario.

Also, he has stressed that the attacks against civilian infrastructure, in particular energy ones, are “illegal and unacceptable”, in a reference that connects both with the conflict in the Middle East and with the war in Ukraine. Costa has put the focus on the humanitarian impact of the escalation and has underlined that the Iranian civilian population would be the main victim of an eventual expansion of the military offensive.

European pressure on Tehran

The statements come days after the telephone conversation held with the Iranian president, Masud Pezeshkian, in which he conveyed the position of the European Union: immediate de-escalation, respect for international law and a firm commitment to the diplomatic path.

During that contact, Costa had already warned that the situation in the region is “extremely dangerous” and had asked Tehran to engage constructively in international efforts, in particular in coordination with the United Nations and regional actors. The priority, according to Brussels, is to ensure the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic point through which a substantial part of global energy trade transits.

The EU thus seeks to consolidate a mediation role in an increasingly internationalized crisis, in which geopolitical, energy, and global security interests converge. European sources emphasize that without stability in Hormuz, the economic impact can be immediate and global in scope, especially in the oil and gas markets.

Iran hardens its discourse and limits maritime traffic

The European call coincides with a new hardening of Iranian rhetoric. The Revolutionary Guard has warned that the Strait of Hormuz “will never be the same again”, in a message especially directed at the United States and Israel after the joint offensive launched last February 28 against Tehran.

In a statement released this Sunday, the Iranian naval command has also indicated that it is “completing operational preparations” for a new order in the Persian Gulf, which suggests a stricter control strategy over this key maritime route.

In parallel, from the political sphere, the spokesman for the Iranian Parliament, Abbas Goudarzi, has reinforced this line, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araqchi, has warned that any attack against Iranian energy infrastructure would constitute a war crime.

Data on maritime traffic already reflect the impact of this situation. According to the state agency Fars, only 15 vessels have crossed the strait in the last 24 hours with Iranian authorization, which represents approximately 10% of the usual volume prior to the outbreak of the conflict. This drastic reduction fuels international concern over possible prolonged disruptions in energy supply.

Washington raises the tone 

In parallel, the American president, Donald Trump, has intensified pressure on Iran with his strongest warning to date. The leader has assured that he will order an unprecedented attack if Tehran does not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, in a message of an especially aggressive tone that marks a new turning point in the crisis.

Trump has even claimed that the next American attack will have no comparison with previous operations, thus raising uncertainty about a possible direct military escalation between both countries.

From Tehran, the response has not been long in coming. In addition to diplomatic warnings, the supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain closed”, reinforcing the idea that Iran is willing to maintain its position despite external threats.

Risk of regional escalation and global consequences

The exchange of threats between Washington and Tehran, added to Israel's role in the initial offensive, sets up a scenario of high risk of regional escalation, with potential involvement of other actors in the Middle East.

International analysts warn that any incident in Hormuz could trigger a chain reaction, affecting not only regional security, but also the global economy. The strait is considered one of the world's main energy bottlenecks, so its blockade or restriction has immediate effects on crude oil prices and supply chains.

In this context, the European Union insists on the need to avoid a military drift and advocates for strengthening diplomatic channels. Costa has reiterated that “there must be space for diplomacy” and has underlined the European willingness to collaborate in any նախաձեռնativa that contributes to reducing tension.

Diplomacy, only way out according to Brussels

The European position is summarized in a central idea: without negotiation there will be no sustainable solution to the conflict. Faced with the increase in belligerent rhetoric and military movements, Brussels tries to keep open a channel for dialogue which, for the moment, appears fragile.

Costa has appealed to the responsibility of all involved parties and has recalled that recent history demonstrates the human and economic costs of uncontrolled escalations. In this regard, he has insisted that the priority must be protect the civilian population and avoid damage to critical infrastructure.

With the situation deteriorating on the ground and the diplomatic margin narrowing, the European Union's message seeks to contain a crisis that threatens to overflow. However, the hardening of positions and the increase in threats paint an uncertain horizon, in which diplomacy faces one of its greatest recent challenges.