
politico.eu · Feb 23, 2026 · Collected from GDELT
Published: 20260223T111500Z
The U.S. has built up its forces in the region, although Washington is still pursuing a potential deal with Tehran, with Trump-appointed negotiator Steve Witkoff telling Fox News on Saturday that the president was “curious” about “why they [Iran] haven’t capitulated.” Iran, in turn, has threatened to strike U.S. bases if attacked. With few forces in the region, the role of European powers has mostly been to watch from the sidelines — though Kallas stressed that the EU shares U.S. concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its ballistic missile program, adding: “It’s true that Iran is at its weakest point that they have been.” But Kallas called for avoiding direct conflict: “We should really be using this time to find a diplomatic solution.”