“Of course, we cannot accept this rhetoric in any way if it constitutes a threat in itself, or worse, what might be hidden behind it,” the Finnish Foreign Minister declared when consulted by the newspaper.
Valtonen revealed that she held a telephone conversation this Wednesday with her Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, to discuss the two-week ceasefire agreement and the crucial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The minister believes that there is currently “a really good opportunity” to achieve lasting peace in the volatile Middle East region, despite the tensions generated by the recent outbursts of the US president.
European analysts consulted by the Nordic press indicated that Helsinki’s stance reflects the growing unease among transatlantic partners regarding the unpredictable style of the Trump administration.
International relations experts agreed that Washington’s threats against Tehran—including the unprecedented warning about the “disappearance of Iran as a civilization”—have generated alarm in European capitals.
Despite Trump’s announcement on April 7 of a two-week mutual ceasefire, based on the ten conditions presented by Iran, Valtonen insisted that bellicose rhetoric only increases the risks of escalation.
Pakistan’s mediation and the direct talks scheduled for tomorrow, April 10, will be crucial, but in the meantime, countries like Finland are urging Washington to moderate its language and respect diplomatic channels.
abo/arm/mem/ehl/amp
