In the shattered streets of Tehran, Hossein Kermani, 50, a fruit vendor, sweeps glass from his stall, hit by an Israeli strike that killed 78, including his neighbor’s son. In Israel’s Tel Aviv, teacher Rachel Levy, 34, checks her phone for missile alerts, her students’ drawings scattered after a shelter dash. As Israel and Iran’s war enters its second week, European leaders are racing to stop a conflict that’s left hundreds dead and threatens a regional inferno. “This is a dangerous moment,” said Britain’s Keir Starmer, his plea for restraint echoing across capitals.

Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, launched June 13, targeted Iran’s nuclear sites and commanders, citing an “existential threat.” Iran fired back with missiles, hitting Haifa and Beersheba, injuring dozens. The violence, rooted in years of hostility, has killed 639 in Iran, mostly civilians, per human rights reports. In Geneva, EU’s Kaja Kallas met Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, pushing diplomacy. “We need talks, not war,” she said. But Araghchi’s response was firm: “No negotiations until Israel stops.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, condemning attacks on civilians, urged Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian to return to talks. “Diplomacy is the only way,” he said, noting France’s support for Israel’s defense but not its offensive strikes. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, briefed by Netanyahu, called Iran’s nuclear ambitions a threat but begged both sides to de-escalate. Trump’s claim that “Europe can’t help” frustrated leaders, who feel sidelined as U.S.-Iran talks falter.

Kermani, wiping tears, said, “We just want to live.” Levy, in Tel Aviv, echoed, “My students ask why we’re fighting. I don’t know anymore.” The IAEA’s Rafael Grossi warned that strikes on nuclear sites risk “grave consequences.” Europe’s leaders, from Ursula von der Leyen to Italy’s Antonio Tajani, insist on restraint, but Israel’s vow to continue and Iran’s promise of “punishment” drown out calls for peace. With Trump mulling U.S. strikes, Europe’s diplomatic push feels like shouting into a storm. Can it save Kermani and Levy from more loss? For now, hope rests on words against missiles.

Click Here