Federica Mogherini, Former EU Foreign Affairs Chief

Federica Mogherini, the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, sharply criticized the Trump administration’s approach toward Iran in an article published on April 13, 2026, in Foreign Affairs.

Mogherini emphasized that uranium enrichment has become part of Iran’s scientific and national identity, and that any agreement demanding its complete elimination would be rejected even by reformist governments in Iran. She described the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran as “illegal and reckless from day one,” adding that there was no evidence of an imminent nuclear threat from Tehran or of diplomacy having failed.

According to Mogherini, Trump’s formula for forcing Tehran into complete surrender has failed, and the war proved that pressure alone cannot change Iran’s behavior. She suggested that to end the crisis, credible diplomatic incentives and positive inducements should be offered instead of relying solely on pressure.

Foreign Affairs magazine