PRAGUE, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Sunday that Europe should urge both the United States and Iran not to escalate current hostility.

He said this after an official luncheon with President Milos Zeman.

"I have also discussed foreign affairs with the President. We agreed that Europe should urge both the United States and Iran not to escalate the situation, that we should be more involved as Europeans," Babis said.

Babis's comment comes in the wake of the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad Friday by the United States. Tensions quickly arose as Tehran warned of retaliation.

Also on Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said during a moderated cross-party political debate that the killing of Soleimani had created a "very serious situation", and currently there is a need for a greater European contribution to preventing an escalation, beyond "words and discussion".