World leaders on Saturday morning issued reactions to the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with most calling for diplomatic talks to swiftly resume, and for Tehran to immediately end counterattacks.
President Donald Trump announced the strikes overnight, carried out alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort aimed at undermining Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime.
The Iranian government and opposition leaders respond
Responses flooded in, with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi describing the strikes as “wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate. He warned that Iran’s military stands “prepared” to “teach the aggressors the lesson they deserve.”
Prince Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the last Shah of Iran and someone who has been viewed as someone who could lead a democratic Iran, hailed the U.S. strikes, saying it could soon be possible to completely overthrow the regime, “reclaim Iran and rebuild it.” The prince is currently in exile, living in the U.S.
The Middle East’s response
Several major Middle Eastern players, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, swiftly condemned Iran for carrying out counterattacks against U.S. military bases across the Persian Gulf region and Israel.
Missiles and drones hit the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain and other American bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, according to Politico. A U.S. official said air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles aimed at American bases, including Al Udeied in Qatar, the U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain, Ali Salem in Kuwait, and Al Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia said that “cowardly” Iranian attacks that targeted the Riyadh Region and the Eastern Province were successfully intercepted. “These attacks cannot be justified under any pretext or in any way whatsoever,” the country’s foreign ministry said.
Qatar “strongly” condemned the Iranian attacks on its territory. Qatar’s foreign ministry noted it has long worked as a third-party mediator between Iran and the international community, and expressed concern that Tehran’s counterattacks undermine the “good faith” relationship between the two countries. Qatar called for an “immediate” end of retaliation attacks and for all parties to “return to the negotiating table.”
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi also condemned Iran’s counterattacks, saying it “firmly rejects” the violation of the sovereignty of fellow Arab states.
China and Russia call for a diplomatic resolution
The two major powers have been viewed as having a more favorable relationship with Iran than the U.S. and states in the Middle East.
China’s foreign ministry said it was “highly concerned” about the strikes, demanding an “immediate” end to military operations and calling for diplomatic talks to resume.
“Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected. China calls for an immediate cessation of military operations, prevention of further escalation of tensions, resumption of dialogue and negotiations, and maintenance of peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing said.
Russia’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the U.S. for authorizing the strikes.
“Washington and Tel Aviv have once again embarked on a dangerous adventure that is rapidly bringing the region closer to a humanitarian, economic, and possibly radiological catastrophe,” Russia’s foreign ministry said. “By plunging the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation, they are actually encouraging countries around the world, primarily in the region, to acquire more and more serious means against emerging threats.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said, according to the Associated Press. Araghchi told Lavrov he would seek to convene an urgent U.N. Security Council session, it said. Lavrov reiterated Russia’s condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli strikes and Moscow’s readiness to help broker peace.
Europe and NATO allies condemn Iranian counterattacks
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the strikes “greatly concerning.” She stopped short of condemning the attack, but urged restraint, calling on “all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law.” At the same time, she criticized Iran’s “murderous regime,” and noted concerns about the country’s nuclear program.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola issued a statement more favorable to the strikes, noting that the EP has long called on Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and “finally allow its people to be free to choose their own destiny.” She also warned against escalation in the region, calling out Iran’s counterattacks, calling them“ inexcusable and unjustifiable.”
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement that condemned Iran’s counterattacks “in the strongest terms” and called for diplomatic talks to resume. “We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution,” the three NATO members said.
In a separate statement, French President Emanuel Macron said that the joint U.S.-Israeli attack carries “grave consequences for international peace and security.” He said the escalation “must stop” and called for an “urgent” meeting of the United Nations Security Council. France is ready to deploy resources to protect its closest partners at their request, he added.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a video statement saying he is concerned about what the strikes “mean for security and stability.” He called for a turn to diplomatic efforts, but noted that “it is clear” that Iran “must never be allowed” to develop a nuclear weapon,” adding that the country has backed over 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil in the past year.
Starmer said British planes “are in the sky today” as part of coordinated regional defensive operations. The United Kingdom has stepped up protection for British bases and personnel “to their highest level,” he continued.
“Iran can end this now. They should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programs, and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people, who deserve the right to determine their own future. In line with our long-standing position, this is the route to de-escalation and back to the negotiating table,” he said.
The leader of the country’s conservative party, Kemi Badenoch, backed the strikes. “Under my leadership, the Conservative Party will always put our national security first and work with our allies to make the world a safer place,” she said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney backed the strikes, hailing them as a move to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and “further threatening international peace and security.” “Despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has neither fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted all enrichment activities, nor ended its support for regional terrorist proxy groups,” Carney said in a statement.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed concern about how the U.S.-Israeli strikes would impact the global oil supply, noting Iran is a major energy producer, and called for a way to “mitigate” a potential rise in oil prices.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. and Israel for launching the strikes, saying they promoted a “hostile international order.” He called on all parties, including Iran, to de-escalate tensions, warning against another “devastating” war in the Middle East.
Slovenia said it was “concerned” by the joint U.S.-Israel attacks and called for “immediate de-escalation. “Diplomacy remains the only path to stability,” officials said.
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Belgium’s foreign affairs minister, Maxime Prevot, said he understood that “frustration” with Iran’s refusal to engage in meaningful diplomatic negotiations had driven the strikes.
“Belgium has always condemned this regime: its systematic human rights violations, its threat to regional and global security, its refusal to engage constructively,” he said.