Senior EU Diplomat to Visit

Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Helga Maria Schmid on Wednesday set off on a tour of Persian Gulf countries.
Schmid plans to visit the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Iran against the backdrop of tensions rising in the region, largely triggered by the US bringing in military reinforcements to ward off an alleged Iranian threat without providing any evidence.
Washington’s already strained relations with Tehran deteriorated after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, last year and reimposed sanctions on Tehran for not agreeing to renegotiate the deal and include non-nuclear elements in it. 
Tensions have reached a critical level in recent months, creating global concerns about a potential conflict in the region. This is while both the US and Iran have denied harboring any aggressive plan.  
Schmid's mission will be an opportunity to reiterate the European Union’s call to defuse regional tensions, find ways toward de-escalation and promote dialogue, EEAS said in a statement. 
As part of the EU efforts to promote stability in the region, the visit will also underline the importance of safeguarding the nuclear deal with Iran, “which continues to be a key element of the non-proliferation architecture and a key pillar of security, both globally and in the region”.
The visit will offer an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations as well as other regional issues of common concern, the statement concluded.