U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran sparked war, raising global oil prices and threatening Europe’s economy, prompting EU leaders to reject military involvement and push for energy independence.

A war in Iran sparked by U.S. and Israeli military strikes has triggered a sharp rise in global energy prices, disrupting trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz and threatening Europe’s economic stability. EU leaders, meeting in Brussels, rejected joining military operations, stressing that intervention in the Strait of Hormuz is off the table without a ceasefire and international mandate. While some leaders called for stronger sanctions on Iran, others condemned the conflict as illegal and destabilizing. The bloc is focusing on financial tools to ease price spikes and accelerating energy independence through domestic, sustainable production, drawing on lessons from post-2022 efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy.