Nournews: The reaction of the European Union and the European troika to the announcement of Iran–U.S. negotiations was, on the surface, framed in the language of support for diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue. From Paris to London and Berlin, officials spoke of “welcoming” the talks, while Rome referred to side consultations. Yet these positions reflect less an independent role than an attempt to return to the decision-making table—a table from which Europe was removed years ago after choosing alignment with Washington and the Zionist lobby.

Today, Europe is neither a mediator nor a guarantor; it is an actor issuing statements in an effort to conceal its marginalization. This display of welcome is an implicit admission of the erosion of Europe’s global role and its inability to exert real influence.

The Credibility Europe Burned

Over two decades of nuclear negotiations, Iran acted within the framework of its legitimate rights and even remained committed to its obligations after the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA. Europe, by contrast, failed to honor even its minimum commitments—whether in Saadabad and Paris, under the JCPOA, or through the promised financial mechanisms. The illegal activation of the snapback mechanism, alignment with sanctions, and the political designation of parts of Iran’s official armed forces effectively burned the remaining capital of trust.

Moreover, support for unrest, silence in the face of economic pressure on the Iranian people, and alignment with anti–human rights policies reduced Europe from a “party to negotiations” to a “subject of accountability.”

Gray in a Vortex of Decline

While opposing peace in Ukraine and amplifying Iran’s nuclear file, Europe seeks to strike a pose of global relevance. The reality, however, is a gray union caught in a vortex of economic, political, and security decline. Explicit admissions by European officials regarding the lack of strategic autonomy, and descriptions of Europe as a “machine for issuing hollow statements,” point to deep structural erosion.

Silence over the crimes in Gaza, inaction in supporting humanitarian institutions, and contentment with mere expressions of regret have cemented the image of a powerless actor.

Between Collapse and Behavioral Change

Europe now stands at a crossroads: continued self-subordination to the United States and the Zionist regime, or a redefinition of its behavior within the framework of the emerging global order. Human-rights posturing, sanctions-centric policies, and theatrical attempts to reenter negotiations will not halt the path of decline.

Key actors of the new order—from Iran to China, Russia, and BRICS—no longer accept ineffective roles. Only genuine behavioral change, acceptance of new rules, and the willingness to bear the cost of independence can slow Europe’s decline; otherwise, marginalization will become entrenched.