BAGHDAD, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has called on European powers, particularly France, Britain and Germany, to play a direct and effective role in pushing for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Iran and a return to negotiations, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Hussein had a phone call on Tuesday with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, during which they discussed the escalating tensions in the region, the ministry said in a statement.
The two ministers stressed the need for the international community to act swiftly to halt military operations by all sides, warning that further escalation risked triggering broader global economic and humanitarian crises, according to the statement.
They also emphasized the importance of preventing the conflict from expanding or drawing in additional regional and international actors, which could further endanger global peace and stability.
Both sides agreed on the need to coordinate international efforts to support dialogue, describing it as the most viable path to avert dangerous consequences for the region and the world, the statement added. ■
