Several world leaders have reacted to the US attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, with many raising concerns about the potential escalation of the Israel-Iran war, which has dragged on for over a week.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that the war began on 13 June after Israel launched air strikes on Iran. The attacks led to retaliation and further attacks, causing the death of hundreds of people in Iran and dozens of people in Israel.
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Although the US initially distanced itself from the crisis, President Trump later disclosed that the US was likely to get involved.
On Sunday, in the second week of the war, the United States launched an attack on Iran, officially entering the Israel-Iran war.
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The airstrikes damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities located in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan Province.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump described the attack as a “successful attack” and noted that all of the US aircraft are now out of Iranian airspace.
He said, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran’s airspace.
The US President also urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table and agree to a deal about its nuclear development.
The reaction in the US, including among President Trump’s supporters, has been mixed. While some described the attack as a strategic show of force, others believe that the action would only drag the country into another war in the Middle East.
Many top Democrats have also condemned the attack, describing it as unauthorised.
Globally, reactions have also been mixed, and the world seems to be divided into two sides. However, there’s a general call for all parties to return to the negotiating table.
What Iran and Israel said
Iran has said the US betrayed international diplomacy and violated the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by launching and supporting attacks on its facilities while talks were ongoing.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araqchi, US action will have “long-lasting consequences,” as it has crossed the red line.
He said, “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour.”
However, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mr Trump’s decision to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran.
He described the action as “bold, righteous and historic.”
UN, others react
In contrast to Mr Netanyahu’s statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the US’s action a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge.
He also described this as a “direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”
“At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”
Similarly, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday morning, issued a strong appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran.
The country warned that continued escalation could ignite a full-blown regional war.
In a post on X, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said it regrets the deterioration of the situation following the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.
The ministry expressed concerns that the dangerous tension in the region will lead to catastrophic repercussions at the regional and international levels.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, “It is crucial that there be a quick de-escalation of the conflict. We are closely monitoring the situation there with grave concern.”
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters described the ongoing military action in the Middle East as deeply concerning and stressed the urgent need to avoid further escalation.
Mr Peters reaffirmed New Zealand’s strong support for diplomatic efforts and urged all parties to return to the negotiating table, emphasising that diplomacy offers a more lasting solution than continued military engagement.
More reactions
The Australian government said, “We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.”
The Mexican Foreign Ministry, on X, wrote, “The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict. In keeping with our constitutional principles of foreign policy and our country’s pacifist conviction, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region.”
Venezuela condemned US military aggression against Iran and demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities.
In a post on X, the country’s foreign ministry reiterated, the “bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes.”
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel also affirmed that the “aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences.
Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, said on state broadcaster RAI that he hopes the attack will only lead to de-escalation and bring Iran back to the negotiating table.
European leaders speak
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Iran’s nuclear programme as a grave threat to international security, emphasising that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
He stated that the United States had acted to address that threat.
READ ALSO: US joins Israel-Iran war, bombs Irans nuclear facilities
The European Union foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, took a similar stance, stating that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon as this would pose a serious threat to international security.
“Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it would be a threat to international security. I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation. EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the situation tomorrow,” she said.
