EU expected to play bigger role in peace talks

With the Geneva talks on the Iran nuclear program on Friday yielding little fruit, the European Union has been urged to play a more independent role in peace negotiations, even as the situation in the Middle East worsened following the bombing of nuclear sites by the US in Iran.

"The discussions and proposals made by the Europeans in Geneva were unrealistic. Insisting on these positions will not bring Iran and Europe closer to an agreement," Reuters quoted an Iranian senior official as saying on condition of anonymity, while no openly reached deal was reported yet.

For Di Dongsheng, dean of the School of Global and Area Studies at the Renmin University of China, the continued Israel-Iran conflict has put Europe in an awkward position. "Relying heavily on oil supplies from the Middle East, Europe now faces a high risk of energy shortage in case the situation worsens and the Strait of Hormuz gets closed," he told China Daily. "Besides, what Israel has been committing in Gaza, recognized by many as massacre, has aroused quite fierce opposition from the European people and certain political parties."