Finnish president stresses dialogue after talks with his Iranian counterpart

Finnish President Alexander Stubb stressed on Thursday the importance of maintaining dialogue with Iran following a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.

"I spoke today with Iranian President @drpezeshkian. We discussed the situation in Iran and the Middle East. A ceasefire and a diplomatic solution are urgently needed," Stubb said on US social media company X.

Highlighting the importance of continued engagement despite political differences, Stubb said: "Despite our differences, it is important to continue the dialogue."

"I stressed the need to stop attacks on neighboring countries and to open up the Strait of Hormuz," he also added.

The strait, through which roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass daily, has been effectively disrupted since early March following Iranian measures taken in retaliation for the US-Israeli offensive on Iran that began on Feb. 28.

Trump has repeatedly urged European allies and Gulf states to take a more active role in securing the strait, arguing that countries dependent on its oil should bear responsibility for reopening it.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.