EU's Kallas tells Iran's Araqchi safe passage in Strait of Hormuz is priority, official says

BRUSSELS, March 18 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a priority for Europe and the EU supports a diplomatic solution to the war, an EU official told Reuters.

In a phone call on Wednesday morning, Kallas “called on Iran to cease all attacks on critical infrastructure in the region,” the official said, adding that the bloc’s top diplomat “stressed that the EU supports de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to the war”.

“The call took place before the execution of a European citizen held by the regime, which the EU condemns in strongest terms,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.