Bangladesh, March 3 -- When missiles fly and the language of diplomacy shrinks to soundbites, moral clarity is usually the first casualty. In the escalating confrontation involving Iran, the European Union has chosen a posture that raises uncomfortable questions about consistency, sovereignty, and the credibility of its professed values. Rather than foregrounding international law or explicitly condemning unilateral military escalation by United States and Israel, leading European figures have centered their messaging on Tehrans alleged obligations and misdeeds.

The tone is unmistakable: de-escalation is desirable, but the burden of it appears to rest disproportionately on the party absorbing the strikes.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Ka...