The President of the European Commission stated on Wednesday, March 11, that the European Union will “always respect” the principles of international law, two days after facing criticism for claiming it could “no longer continue to be the guardian of the old world order.” In a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's commitment to peace and the UN Charter. She also strongly criticised the Iranian regime following the death of Ali Khamenei, while maintaining that acknowledging the current state of the world does not diminish the EU's determination to strive for its desired future.