EU, NATO officials comment on Iran-US tensions

European foreign affairs ministers met in Brussels on Friday to discuss the ongoing situation in Iran after a Ukrainian jetliner crashed outside the capital, killing all 176 people on board.

Tensions were heightened as the U.S. came to the assessment that an Iranian missile was responsible for downing the aircraft, while the Iranian government denied playing a role in the crash.

In an attempt to avoid an escalation between Iran and the United States, EU leaders have intensified diplomatic activities, trying to keep alive the nuclear deal while making sure the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition continues to operate in Iraq.

The development comes after a string of events that increased tension across the region.

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell had called the urgent meeting in Brussels after the U.S. killing of Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone attack in Iraq on Jan. 3.

Tehran responded earlier this week with missile strikes at U.S. bases and announced it would no longer respect limits set under the 2015 nuclear deal on how many centrifuges it can use to enrich uranium.

In the wake of the killing of Soleimani, Iraq's parliament called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country.