World reacts as Iran fires missiles at US base
Saudi Arabia has put aside old rivalries to stand up for its “sisterly state” Qatar as global criticism grows in the wake of Iran striking a US base in Doha. See how the world is reacting.
World leaders have been quick to react to the latest development in the spiralling Middle East hostilities after Iran attacked a US base in Qatar.
It comes after the world reeled as America launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities after following Israel into the fray.
SEE BELOW FOR REACTION AROUND THE WORLD:
QATAR
Qatar on Monday said it “reserved the right to respond” after Iran attacked the US Al Udeid base hosted in the Gulf state, the largest American military facility in the region.
“We affirm that the State of Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement, adding that the US base had been evacuated as a precaution ahead of the attack.
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the attack that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,” Mr Al-Ansari said.
“We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter.”
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the attack that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter. We affirm that…
— د. ماجد Ù…Øمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) June 23, 2025
He added: “the continuation of such escalatory military actions will undermine security and stability in the region, dragging it into situations that could have catastrophic consequences for international peace and security.
“We call for the immediate cessation of all military actions and for a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue.
“Furthermore, the State of Qatar was one of the first countries to warn against the dangers of Israeli escalation in the region. We have consistently called for diplomatic solutions to be prioritised and have stressed the importance of good-neighbourliness and avoiding escalation.
“We reaffirm that dialogue is the only way to overcome the current crises and ensure the security of the region and the peace of its people.”
In response to the news America had bombed Iranian nuclear sites, Qatar earlier said it feared “catastrophic consequences” for the region and the entire world in an eerie premonition of what was to come.
AUSTRALIA
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to react to the Iranian strike on the US base.
However, he did comment on America bombing nuclear facilities in Tehran.
“The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon and we support action to prevent that,” Mr Albanese said.
He added “the information has been clear” that Iran had enriched uranium to 60 per cent – a level beyond what was necessary for non-military usage.
“There is no other explanation for it to reach 60, other than engaging in a program that wasn’t about civilian nuclear power,” Mr Albanese said.
“Had Iran complied with the very reasonable requests that were made, including by the (International Atomic Energy Agency) then circumstances would have been different.”
IRAN
Iranians gathered in central Tehran on Monday night, images on state TV showed, celebrating the strike in Doha.
Demonstrators were seen waving the flag of the Islamic republic and chanting “Death to America”, while others honked their car horns in celebration, footage showed.
It came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks on Tehran as “outrageous” and said his country had a right to defend its sovereignty.
“The events … 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.
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”.
OTHER ARAB STATES
Egypt condemned the escalation, warning of “dangerous repercussions”, while Jordan’s foreign ministry voiced “deep concern”.
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
On Monday, Saudi Arabia lambasted Iran for its “unjustifiable” attack on the US base in Qatar, offering to deploy “all its capabilities” to support Doha, with whom it has had fraught relations in the past.
Riyadh said it “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the aggression launched by Iran against the sisterly State of Qatar … This is unacceptable and unjustifiable under any circumstances. The Kingdom affirms its solidarity and full support for … Qatar and offers all its capabilities to support the sisterly State of Qatar in any measures it takes,” Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
It was an abrupt about face as prior to the Iranian strikes on Qatar, 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.
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.
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 chief Antonio Guterres condemned Iran’s attack Monday against a US base in Qatar and urged again for diplomacy to end the conflict between Iran and Israel, his spokesman said.
“From the outset of the crisis, the Secretary-General has repeatedly condemned any military escalation in this conflict, including today’s attack by Iran on the territory of Qatar,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
Guterres “further reiterates his call on all parties to stop fighting,” he added.
It came after Mr Guterres called the US strikes on Iran 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.
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 called for a return to negotiations on Monday after Iran carried out a retaliatory strike on a US military base in Qatar.
“The spiral of chaos must end,” he wrote on X.
“I call on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, de-escalate and return to the negotiating table.”
Speaking to broadcaster France 2, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said: “This is a dangerous escalation in which Iran bears a heavy responsibility. It is a cycle of violence that puts the region at risk of a widespread conflagration, which would have very serious repercussions even here at home.”
In the aftermath of the US strike on Iran, Mr Macron called a meeting of the country’s defence council with his office saying he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman on Sunday.
France urged “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.
GERMANY
Germany said Monday that Iran’s retaliatory strikes on a US base were “calibrated” and expressed hope that Tehran and Washington will now enter talks to avoid further conflict.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told the ARD broadcaster that Iran’s launching of multiple missiles at the United States’ Al Udeid base in Qatar was a “calibrated answer” to American strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites.
Wadephul said he was also “pleased that the American president has reacted in such a measured way” to Iran’s strikes.
In a post on X published shortly afterwards Wadephul said Iran’s strikes were “unacceptable” and said Germany “stands in solidarity with our partners in the Gulf states”.
In his comments to ARD he said that Iran’s attack was “to be condemned,” but added it was “not so strong or so uncontrolled that an escalation must follow”.
“(Iran) is showing in an indirect way a certain readiness” for negotiations, he said.
“At this stage we can only repeat our demand to Iran to be ready for talks”, he added, pointing to Trump’s latest statements in this regard.
The eventual aim of any talks must be that “Iran is permanently prevented from having nuclear weapons,” Wadephul said.
“This would serve world peace, would serve Israel and Europe.” The leaders of France, It came after 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.
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”.
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.
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”.
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Originally published as World reacts as Iran fires missiles at US base