European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen called for negotiations with Iran and an end to hostilities on Tuesday (March 24).

Von der Leyen condemned Iran’s attacks on civilians and commercial shipping, saying that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was unacceptable. She did not condemn the United States' and Israel's actions that began the war.

"The situation is critical for the energy supply lines worldwide," she added, during a news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.

Iran denied on Monday (March 23) that it had engaged in negotiations with the United States, after President Donald Trump postponed a threat to bomb Iran's power grid because of what he described as productive talks with unidentified Iranian officials.

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EU's Von der Leyen calls for negotiations with Iran, end of 'hostilities'

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN ON IRAN AND STRAIT OF HORMUZ

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (MARCH 24, 2026) (AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT BROADCASTING - Broadcast: Access all, provided it is only used for fair and accurate reports, is not used for political party advertising, is not used for commercial sponsorship, advertising or promotion, and is not used for satire or ridicule Digital: Access all, provided it is only used for fair and accurate reports, is not used for political party advertising, is not used for commercial sponsorship, advertising or promotion, and is not used for satire or ridicule)

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE WALKING TO PODIUM IN NEWS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

“I'm deeply concerned about the conflict. Iran has to cease immediately, the threats, laying of mines, drones and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait to commercial shipping. The recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces is unacceptable and must be condemned. I also want to emphasise that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law.

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

“We think that it is time to go to the negotiation table and to end the hostilities. The situation is critical for the energy supply lines worldwide. We all feel the knock on effects on gas and oil prices, our businesses and our societies. But it is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East.”

5. WHITE FLASH

6. VON DER LEYEN AND ALBANESE SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE / EUROPEAN TRADE COMMISSIONER MAROS SEFCOVIC AND AUSTRALIAN TRADE MINISTER DON FARRELL SHAKING HANDS AND HUGGING