‘Dangerous escalation’: World reacts to US strikes on Iran

The United States has struck three nuclear sites in Iran after days of speculation over Donald Trump’s course of action in the conflict. Here is how the world reacted.

The United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday, joining Israel’s bombing campaign after days of speculation over Washington’s involvement in the conflict.

“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,” US President Donald Trump said after the strikes.

Here is a roundup of the key reactions from global powers:

Participants shout slogans during an anti-war demonstration in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: AFP

IRAN

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks as “outrageous” and said his country had a right to defend its sovereignty.

“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” he posted on social media, calling the attacks “lawless and criminal” behaviour.

Araghchi later said the United States and Israel crossed “a very big red line” with the attacks, and said he would head to Moscow later Sunday for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

People watch as Iranian musician Ali Ghamsari performs anti-war music near Azadi Square (Freedom Square) in Tehran, Iran. Picture: Getty Images

Iranian protesters and a child step on a poster with a vampire-like illustration of Donald Trump in Revolution Square. Picture: Getty Images

ISRAEL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated President Trump, saying the attacks would “help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace”.

“Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Netanyahu said in a video message, adding that the attacks demonstrated “America has been truly unsurpassed”.

He also told Israelis that his promise to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “fulfilled”.

ARAB STATES

Egypt condemned the escalation, warning of “dangerous repercussions”, while Jordan’s foreign ministry voiced “deep concern”.

Qatar, host of the biggest US military base in the Middle East, said it feared “catastrophic consequences” for the region and the entire world.

Oman, which was mediating recent nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, strongly condemned the US strikes, labelling them illegal and calling for de-escalation.

The United Arab Emirates also expressed concern, calling for “an immediate end to the escalation”.

Bahrain told most of its government employees to work from home until further notice, while its foreign ministry also urged a return to talks.

Kuwait activated an emergency plan that includes readying shelters.

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia expressed “great concern” after the strikes on its neighbour, the “sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran”.

“The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation,” the foreign ministry posted on X.

A funeral procession of a former aide to the late Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah killed by an Israeli airstrike inside Iran, in Baghdad, Iraq. Picture: AP

IRAQ

Iraq, which hosts US bases, expressed “deep concern and strong condemnation”, government spokesperson Basim Alawadi said, calling the attacks “a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East”.

Fears are growing in Iraq over a possible intervention by Iran-backed armed factions, who have threatened Washington’s interests in the region if it joins Israel in attacking Iran.

EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations.

“I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,” Kallas wrote on X, adding that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers would discuss the situation on Monday.

A puppet of Donald Trump is held up during a demonstration ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Picture: AP

RUSSIA

Russia “strongly condemned” the bombings, calling them “irresponsible” and a “gross violation of international law”.

“A dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security,” the Russian foreign ministry added.

UKRAINE

Ukraine’s foreign ministry said the strikes were justified to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, praising them as a “clear signal”.

“Ukraine is convinced that Iran’s nuclear program must be stopped so that it never again poses a threat to the countries of the Middle East or any other state,” it said.

UNITED NATIONS

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strikes a “dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge”.

“There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,” Guterres said in a statement.

Protesters outside the Iranian Embassy in London, United Kingdom. Picture: Getty Images

BRITAIN

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to “return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis”.

“Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,” Starmer said on X, adding that “stability in the region is a priority”.

FRANCE

French President Emmanuel Macron has called a meeting of the country’s defence council for Sunday, with his office saying he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman on Sunday.

France is urging “all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict”, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X.

Protestors take part in a rally organised by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in front of the city hall in Berlin. Picture: AFP

GERMANY

The leaders of France, Germany and Britain on Sunday called on Iran “not to take any further action that could destabilise the region” in response to US strikes on its nuclear sites.

“We call upon Iran to engage in negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns associated with its nuclear program,” the leaders added in a joint statement.

CHINA

China’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns” the US strikes, warning that they “escalate tensions in the Middle East”.

“China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible,” the ministry said.

THE VATICAN

Pope Leo XIV said after the strikes that “humanity is crying out for peace” and called for an end to all wars.

“Each member of the international community has the moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war, before it becomes an irreparable chasm,” Leo said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican.

Activists burn an effigy of US President Donald Trump during a protest in Kolkata. Picture: AFP

PAKISTAN

Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim country and a longtime Washington ally, said the US attacks “violate all norms of international law”.

“We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said, adding that Iran had the “right to defend itself under the UN Charter”.

Members of a civil society group hold a demonstration to condemn Israeli strikes on Iran in Lahore, Pakistan. Picture: AP

HAMAS

The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the “blatant US aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

“This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation,” Hamas said, calling the attack “a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security”.

HUTHIS

Yemen’s Huthi rebel government, which is backed by Iran, condemned the US attacks and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people.

“The Trump administration’s reckless aggression... is a blatant declaration of war against the brotherly Iranian people. We declare our full support for the brotherly Iranian people,” it said.

Supporters of Yemen's Houthis gather for a rally in solidarity with Iran and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip while condemning Israel. Picture: AFP

ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION

Foreign ministers from countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday urged Israel to end its “aggression” towards Iran, without mentioning the US strikes on the Islamic republic’s nuclear sites.

Founded in 1969, the 57-member OIC sees its role as protecting the interests of the Muslim world and increasing Muslim solidarity.

The ministers “condemn firmly the aggression of Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran, stress the urgent need to stop Israeli attacks and their great concern regarding this dangerous escalation”, said an OIC statement It was published at the end of a OIC meeting in Istanbul this weekend.

The OIC denounced the “destabilisation policies of Israel in the region and its recent attacks on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, constituting flagrant violation of sovereignty and security of these countries and international law”.

Attending the OIC meeting, Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Sunday morning that the United States and Israel had “breached a major red line”.

- AFP

Originally published as ‘Dangerous escalation’: World reacts to US strikes on Iran