Global leaders react with alarm after US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, with the UN, EU, Russia and others warning of regional war, nuclear risks and devastating consequences for civilians
PARIS: Countries around the world voiced fear of a Middle East conflagration after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran on Saturday, triggering retaliation from Tehran, which targeted US bases in the region.
UN: ‘see reason’
The United Nations’ human rights chief condemned the US-Israeli strikes and Iran’s response, warning that further attacks “would only result in “death, destruction and human misery”.
“I call for restraint and implore all parties to see reason,” Volker Turk said in a statement.
Russia: nuclear ‘catastrophe’
Russia slammed the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and argued they were “bringing the region to the brink of a humanitarian, economic, and — this cannot be ruled out — radiological catastrophe”.
Qatar: ‘right to respond’
Qatar, which hosts a US military base, condemned an Iranian missile attack on its territory and warned it “reserves its full right to respond to this attack”.
EU: ‘perilous’
The European Union called for restraint as the situation in the region became “perilous”, and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stressed it was “critical” to “ensure nuclear safety” after the US indicated Iran’s atomic sites were in its crosshairs.
Norway: Israel broke international law
Norway’s foreign minister argued that Israel’s strikes on Iran broke international law, noting that “a pre-emptive attack would require the existence of an imminent threat”.
UK: avoid ‘wider conflict’
The UK government said it feared the situation could escalate “into a wider regional conflict”, and urged its citizens in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE to find shelter.
France: ‘must stop’
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the conflict “carries grave consequences for international peace and security” and urged a halt to the “dangerous” ongoing escalation.
He called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on the conflict.
Lebanon: Won’t be dragged into war
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed his country would not be dragged into war, after Israel announced it was carrying out strikes targeting Iran proxy Hezbollah in south Lebanon amid the Iran operation.
Shah’s son: ‘Final victory’ near
Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah and a leading critic of Tehran, claimed “final victory” was near following the strikes. “Together we can take back and rebuild Iran,” said Pahlavi — who lives in exile in the Washington area in the United States.
Jordan: defend itself
Jordan’s government urged de-escalation while warning it will defend the kingdom’s interests “with all its might”. A government spokesman said the country was not part of the conflict.
Hamas: US-Israel ‘aggression’
Palestinian militant group and Iran ally Hamas condemned the United States and Israel’s “aggression” towards Tehran, calling it “a direct assault on the entire region”.
Ukraine: Iran at fault
Ukraine argued the Iranian government’s “violence against its own people and other countries” triggered the US and Israeli attacks against Tehran.
Red Cross: ‘Dangerous chain reaction’
International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric warned that the “military escalation in the Middle East is igniting a dangerous chain reaction across the region, with potentially devastating consequences for civilians”.
African Union: stability at risk
The African Union called “for restraint, urgent de-escalation and sustained dialogue” after the strikes, warning that conflict could risk harming people on the continent.
