EU Commission President Von der Leyen Convenes Emergency Security Meeting Over Iran Crisis

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on March 1 that she is convening a special Security College meeting on Monday, March 2, to address the rapidly escalating situation in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region. Von der Leyen called Iranian missile and drone attacks on regional partners 'unjustified' and urged immediate de-escalation. The announcement drew sharp criticism after von der Leyen had been silent on the initial US-Israeli strikes and was mocked for saying the EU 'does not work on weekends.'