Eurotopics.net

The EU has so far failed to reach a common position on the war in Iran. Differences are evident not only between the leaders of individual countries but also among top figures in Brussels. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that the "old world order" no longer existed, only to be contradicted on Tuesday by Council President António Costa, who said that Europe must ensure that we continue to live in a rules-based world.

In response to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the International Energy Agency (IEA) plans to release strategic oil reserves amounting to 400 million barrels of crude oil. Never before have the agency's 32 member countries taken so much oil from their emergency reserves in a joint action aimed at stabilising the energy market. For the media, the problems are far from over.

There are unclear signals as to how long this should continue: on Monday US President Donald Trump said it would end "very soon", but shortly afterwards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying that they were "not done yet". The air strikes on Iran intensified on Tuesday, and Tehran also continued its attacks on Israel and the Gulf states. Europe's press casts about for realistic exit scenarios.

"Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand." US President Donald Trump made this promise to the people of Iran in his speech at the beginning of the Iran War. Following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the regime has appointed his son Mojtaba Khamenei as his successor. Commentators see little to indicate that the mullahs' power base has been weakened.