Advancing a Geopolitical Europe: New EU Leadership and the Iranian Conundrum

Since 2019, European leaders have emphasized the necessity for the EU to proactively project power and embrace its geopolitical responsibilities. Although they have developed the concept of 'geopolitical EU' as a new discourse, it remains largely unimplemented, aside from the EU's response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, with escalating threats beyond Russia, advancing the geopolitical EU has become increasingly urgent. In this context, this policy paper argues that the EU’s current Iran policy is misaligned with its geopolitical aspirations. The so-called ‘critical engagement’ policy has encountered significant challenges, given that Iran has pursued a revisionist geopolitical agenda as a long-term strategy. The paper frames Iran–EU relations as a geopolitical contestation between a defender and a challenger of the existing international order. Iran has advanced its vision by developing its nuclear, missile, and drone programs, alongside expanding its influence in the Middle East. European leaders have perceived these Iranian activities as a threat to EU security and its geopolitical interests. Therefore, the paper highlights that if the new EU leaders aim to advance the geopolitical EU, they must reformulate European policy toward Iran. It provides a series of policy recommendations, from shaping a specific geopolitical mindset to effectively implementing it.