The outbreak of conflict between Israel and the United States against Iran, triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes across Iran, has drawn frantic calls for calm as deep consternation spreads across globe.
Criticism has mounted against Washington for taking part in the attacks while still engaged in nuclear negotiations with Tehran. Anger has also surfaced in Gulf states caught up in the conflict, as Iran launches retaliatory missile strikes against US military assets hosted on their soil.
Here is a breakdown of how countries and institutions are responding:
Israel
A senior Israeli defence official told the Reuters news agency the joint US-Israeli attacks had been planned for months, with a specific date set weeks ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the attacks aimed to remove an “existential threat” posed by Iran. He said the attacks would “create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands”.
Iran
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Israel and the US of violating the United Nations charter with their attacks and pledged a harsh response, as the country waged retaliatory attacks on Israel as well as in several Gulf states that host US military assets, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait. “All American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become a legitimate target,” a senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera. “There are no red lines after this aggression.”
Hezbollah
Lebanon’s Hezbollah condemned the US-Israeli attacks as a “blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter”, saying it was an attempt to destabilise the region and force its people “to accept domination and occupation schemes”.
It declared solidarity with Iran and called on people in the region to “confront this aggressive plan and recognise its danger”.
United Nations
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the “military escalation” and called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities”.
“The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security,” he said, warning of the risks of a wider regional conflict with “grave consequences for civilians and regional stability”.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday.
European Union
European ?Commission President ?Ursula von der Leyen and European Council ?President Antonio Costa called the conflict “greatly concerning” and urged all parties “to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, ?and to fully respect international law”.
Red Cross
Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, called on countries to respect the rules of war and urged them to find the political will to prevent “further death and destruction”. She warned that “a dangerous chain reaction” of military escalation was under way across the Middle East, “with potentially devastating consequences for civilians”.
Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada supports the U.S. “acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”
“Canada’s position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons,” he said.
Russia: The Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling the US-Israeli strikes on Iran “a pre-planned and unprovoked act” of aggression and demanded an immediate return to diplomatic talks.
National Security
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The ministry also accused Washington and Tel Aviv of falsely hyping threats surrounding Iran’s nuclear program to pursue regime change, and warned the Middle East was in danger of plunging into a cycle of “uncontrolled escalation.”
China: A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement that China, a close partner of Iran, “is highly concerned over the military strikes against Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel.”
“Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” the statement added.
“China calls for an immediate stop of the military actions, no further escalation of the tense situation, resumption of dialogue and negotiation, and efforts to uphold peace and stability in the Middle East.”
Ukraine: In a video address, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to endorse the Trump Administration’s strikes, stating “it is important that the United States is acting decisively.”
In his remarks, Zelenskyy talked about the Iranian leadership’s close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and how Russia has struck Ukrainian cities more than 57,000 times with Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
“The Iranian regime chose to be an accomplice to Putin and supplies him with Shaheds,” Zelenskyy said.
Oman
The main mediator in ongoing US-Iran negotiations, Oman expressed dismay at the outbreak of violence. Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the conflict would not serve US interests, nor the interests of global peace, and urged Washington “not to get sucked in” further.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on “all parties to immediately cease military operations” and for “the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to impose a ceasefire”.
Germany, France, the UK
In a joint statement, the prime ministers of the three countries said they “condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms” and remain committed “to regional stability and to the protection of civilian ?life.” They also said they ?want a resumption of US-Iran negotiations.
Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron ?called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, ?saying the conflict carries “serious consequences” for international peace and security. “The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in an address that UK forces “are active and British planes are in the sky today as part of coordinated regional defensive operations”.
“Iran can end this now,” he said, calling on them to “give up their weapons programmes, and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people”.
Qatar
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Iran for firing missiles at Qatari territory, which is home to the Al Udeid Air Base that hosts US troops. The ministry called the attacks a flagrant violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and a direct assault on its security. It added that Qatar reserves the right to respond, as per international law.
United Arab Emirates
The Ministry of Defence condemned in the “strongest terms” Iran’s attacks on its territory, several of which it said its air defences intercepted. It called the attack “a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act that threatens the security and safety of civilians”, stressing that the UAE has the “full right” to respond.
Bahrain
Bahrain confirmed that an Iranian missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet that it hosts, and called the attack “treacherous”.
Kuwait
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the Iranian attack on its soil as a “flagrant violation” of international law and said it had the right to respond. It warned that any additional escalation would only deepen regional instability.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia condemned in the “strongest terms” the Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states and warned of “dire consequences”.
Turkiye
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on “all parties” to end the spiral of violence, which it stressed started with US-Israeli attacks on Iran. “The events that began with Israel and the US attacking Iran, and continued with Iran targeting third countries, are of a nature that risks the future of our region and global stability,” said the ministry.
Pakistan
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar “strongly condemned the unwarranted attacks against Iran and called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis”.
Russia
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused the US of having used its nuclear talks with Iran as a cover-up before military operations. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to swiftly deliver an objective assessment of what it called irresponsible ?actions that risk ?further destabilising the region.
China
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged “an immediate halt to military actions” and appealed for “the resumption of dialogue and negotiations” to maintain regional peace and stability. It stressed that “Iran’s national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected.”
India
The Ministry of External Affairs called on all parties to “exercise restraint” and “avoid escalation”. It said “dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued” and that “sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected.” The statement came several days after the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Israel and hailed their “vital” partnership.
Ukraine
The ?Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Iran of being responsible for the chain of events leading to the conflict, including its crackdown on protests earlier this year. “The cause of the current ?events is precisely ?the violence and impunity of the Iranian regime, ?in particular the killings and ?repression of ?peaceful protesters, which have become particularly widespread in recent ?months,” said the Foreign Ministry.
Norway
Foreign Minister Espen Barth said the initial attack on Iran by Israel breached standards of international law. “The attack is ?described by Israel as a preventive strike, but ?it is not in line with international law,” said Barth. “Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat.”
Belgium
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the Iranian people “must not pay the price for their government’s choices. We deeply regret that diplomatic efforts could not lead earlier to a negotiated solution.”
