"We are living in a crucial, delicate moment where the most relevant and responsible attitude to take is that of maximum restraint and avoiding any escalation on a military side" stressed High Representative Federica Mogherini following the Foreign Affairs Council which took place on 13 May.

Mogherini also called for dialogue, especially when tensions arise: "As European Union […] we always encourage dialogue and diplomatic engagement. It has always been our commitment."

The High Representative and foreign ministers conveyed the same message of restraint and dialogue to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his visit to Brussels.

It is the work on the nuclear deal that allows the EU and Iran to discuss also regional developments. "On some of the issues, we have very serious differences and divergences", Mogherini said adding that dialogue however still remains "the only and best way to address differences and avoid escalation in the region".

The foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK and Mogherini also met to discuss the ways in which the EU can further advance on the operationalisation of Instex to have first transactions in the next few weeks hopefully.

Mogherini reiterated the EU's support for the nuclear deal with Iran and its full implementation and called for Iran to comply with all its nuclear commitments.

The nuclear deal has been and continues to be a key element of the non-proliferation architecture and remains a key pillar of security, both globally and in the region.

"We will continue to support it as much as we can with all our instruments and all our political will. This is very well known, both in Washington and in Tehran," Mogherini said to the press.