EU's Kallas Sees 'Open Path' for Iran After Khamenei's Death, Urges Regional De-escalation

BRUSSELS, March 1 (Reuters) – The death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei presents a pivotal moment that could redefine the nation's future, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday. In a statement on social media platform X, she framed the event as a potential opening for profound change within the Islamic Republic.

"We are witnessing a defining moment in Iran's history," Kallas stated. "The path ahead is uncertain, but it is now open to a different Iran—one where its people may gain greater freedom to determine their own destiny."

The EU's top diplomat emphasized the immediate need for cautious diplomacy to prevent further violence. Khamenei was killed on Saturday in airstrikes on his Tehran compound, which Iranian state media attributed to joint Israeli and U.S. operations. The attack has sent shockwaves through a region already tense from protracted shadow conflicts.

"I am in close contact with our partners, including those in the region who have borne the brunt of Iran's military activities, to coordinate practical steps toward de-escalation," Kallas added, highlighting concerns over retaliatory strikes.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the sentiment of cautious hope mixed with apprehension. After speaking with Jordan's King Abdullah, whose country has recently been a target of Iranian drones and missiles, von der Leyen affirmed Europe's "full solidarity" with Amman.

"With Khamenei's passing, there is renewed hope for the people of Iran. We must ensure the future is theirs to claim," von der Leyen posted on X. "Simultaneously, this moment carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a dangerous spiral of violence."

Analysts note that the sudden power vacuum in Tehran removes a central figure who has dominated Iranian politics for over three decades. The immediate succession process, likely to involve the Assembly of Experts, will be closely watched for signals of either continuity or reform. The event also immediately tests the EU's fragile balancing act: supporting Iranian civil society's aspirations while managing the security fallout across the Middle East.

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"This is the crack in the wall the protest movement has been waiting for," said Maya Rosenberg, a senior fellow at the Brussels Institute for Strategic Studies. "The regime's cohesion will now be tested as never before. The EU's priority must be to amplify the voices of ordinary Iranians, not just manage state-to-state relations."

David Chen, a geopolitical risk consultant based in Singapore, offered a more measured view: "While the symbolic shift is enormous, the revolutionary guard and deep state institutions remain powerful. Any political transformation will be slow and contested. The EU's focus on de-escalation is prudent; the immediate threat is a regional conflagration."

In sharper contrast, Klaus Berger, a former diplomat and frequent critic of EU foreign policy, reacted with skepticism: "Kallas speaks of an 'open path,' but to where? The EU is once again being naive. This vacuum is more likely to be filled by hardliners vying for power or lead to internal fracture and even greater external aggression. Talking of 'hope' now is dangerously premature."

(Reporting by Lili Bayer; Editing by David Goodman)