World leaders have responded to the US strike on Iran with warnings and pleas for diplomacy, escalating concerns that Israel’s war with Tehran may turn into a larger regional conflict.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump stated that he would make a decision about his involvement in the matter within two weeks. It only took a few days in the end, and Washington’s early attack on Sunday allowed it to get involved in Israel’s campaign. Although the extent of the damage is still unknown, Iran had threatened to strike back if the US joined the Israeli attack.
The United Nations and a host of other countries have expressed their displeasure by condemning the escalating situation while calling for peace. Many have also echoed deep concerns, fearing whether Iran would give up or defend itself and attack US targets across the Gulf with allies.
Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, expressed his “deep alarm” over the United States’ use of force. In a statement posted on X, he stated, “There is an increasing risk that this conflict could quickly spiral out of control—with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”
“I urge member states to defuse the situation. The military solution does not exist. Diplomacy is the only way to move forward.
Winston Peters, the foreign minister of New Zealand, called on “all parties to return to talks.” He stated that Mr. Trump’s actions had just occurred and did not state whether Auckland supports them. The crisis, according to the three-time foreign minister, is “the most serious I’ve ever dealt with,” and it is “critical further escalation is avoided.” He went on to say, “Diplomacy will provide a more lasting resolution than additional military action.”
In Yemen, Hamas and the Houthi rebels condemned the US strikes. They assured Iran of their support in its fight against “Zionist and American aggression.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Houthi political bureau called on Muslim nations to back “the Jihad and resistance option as one front against the Zionist-American arrogance.”
According to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Lebanon must avoid any potential regional repercussions of the conflict. He stated on X that it is more crucial than ever for us to uphold the highest national interest, which is the necessity of preventing Lebanon from becoming involved in the current regional conflict in any manner.
Australia urged a diplomatic resolution to the dispute by closing its embassy in Tehran and evacuating its employees on Friday. In a written statement, a government official stated, “We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security.”
We take note of the US president’s assertion that peace is needed right now.
“The region’s security situation is extremely unstable. We still demand diplomacy, communication, and de-escalation.
Iran’s nuclear facilities “represented a danger for the entire area,” according to foreign minister Antonio Tajani, who now hopes the action can result in negotiations and a de-escalation of the conflict.
The Italian minister added that he would talk to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, “to understand the consequences that there may be from a security point of view” following the US attacks. He added that Italy is making every effort to assist its citizens who wish to flee Israel and Iran in the midst of the conflict.
In Beijing, the government-run media asked in a flash commentary if the US was “repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran.” The US strikes represent a risky turning point, according to an online article by CGTN, the state broadcaster’s foreign-language division.
Citing the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, it stated, “History has repeatedly demonstrated that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilization.”
It claimed that the best chance for Middle East stability is a calm, diplomatic strategy that values communication over military conflict.
The Qatar foreign ministry says that the rising tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict are something that Qatar “regrets.” It called on all sides to exercise restraint and “avoid escalation, which the peoples of the region, burdened by conflicts and their tragic humanitarian repercussions, cannot tolerate.”
Oman denounced the airstrikes, claiming they increase regional tensions.
The US strikes threaten “to expand the scope of the conflict and constitute a serious violation of international law and the United Nations charter”, a spokesperson for Oman’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
On Sunday, the presidential office of South Korea convened an emergency meeting to address the possible economic and security consequences of the US strikes.
According to the presidential office, national security director Wi Sung-lac urged officials to work closely together to minimize any adverse effects on South Korea, stressing that protecting the safety of the South Korean people and maintaining their stable daily lives should be the top priority.
According to Japan’s NHK television, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is meeting with important ministers to talk about the effects of the US strikes. An additional edition about the attack is being distributed in Tokyo by Yomiuri, the newspaper with the largest circulation in Japan.
The military escalation poses a serious threat to Middle Eastern peace and security, according to the Iraqi government, which denounced the strikes. It called for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and stated that it poses significant risks to regional stability.
In the statement, government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi warned that “the continuation of such attacks risks dangerous escalation with consequences that extend beyond the borders of any single state, threatening the security of the entire region and the world.”
While expressing “deep concern,” Saudi Arabia refrained from denouncing the action.
The kingdom’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying, “The kingdom emphasizes the need to use every effort to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation.”
Saudi Arabia had previously denounced Israel’s attacks on Iran’s military leaders and nuclear installations.
The EU remains distraught, yet ready to lead the path to peace. Although the EU urged those engaged in the conflict to exercise restraint, it stated that Iran must not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon.
In a social media post, foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, “I implore all sides to take a step back, go back to the negotiating table, and avoid further escalation.”
Given the complex nature of hostilities and the new dimension to the conflict, it will be a major topic of discussion at the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Monday.
