World Reacts to US, Israel Attack on Iran, Tehran’s Retaliation | the news

The outbreak of conflict between Israel and the United States across Iran, triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes across Iran, drew frantic calls for calm around the world.

Criticism has mounted against Washington for taking part in the attack while engaged in nuclear talks with Tehran. Fury also erupted in Gulf states embroiled in the conflict as Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes against US military assets hosted on their soil.

Here’s a breakdown of how countries and organizations are responding:

United States

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday morning that the US was engaged in a “major combat operation” aimed at “eliminating threats from the Iranian regime”, as missiles hit Tehran and several areas across the country. Trump vowed to dismantle Iran’s missile industry and destroy its navy, while urging the Iranian people to overthrow the government.

Israel

A senior Israeli defense official told Reuters the joint US-Israeli strikes had been planned for months, with a specific date set weeks in advance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were aimed at eliminating the “existential threat” posed by Iran. The attacks “create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” he said.

Iran

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Israel and the US of violating the United Nations Charter with their attacks and issued a harsh response as the country carried out retaliatory attacks on Israel and 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 are legitimate targets,” a senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera. “There are no red lines after this invasion.”

European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa called the conflict “of great concern” and urged all parties to “exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians and fully respect international law”.

Red Cross

Mirjana Spoljarić, 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”.

He warned that a “dangerous chain reaction” of military escalation was underway across the Middle East, with “potentially devastating consequences for civilians”.

Oman

Oman, the main mediator in the ongoing US-Iran talks, expressed dismay at the outbreak of violence. Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the conflict would not serve US interests or the interests of global peace and urged Washington not to “absorb” it further.

France

President Emmanuel Macron called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, saying the conflict had “serious consequences” for international peace and security. “The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he said, adding that Iran must now “engage in good-faith negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its actions to destabilize the region”.

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 forces. The ministry called the attack a clear violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and a direct attack on its security. It added that Qatar has the right to respond under international law.

United Arab Emirates

The Defense Ministry condemned Iran’s attack on its territory in “the strongest terms”, saying several of its air defenses had been intercepted. It called the attack a “dangerous escalation and an act of cowardice that threatens the safety and security of civilians”, stressing that the UAE has the “full right” to respond.

Bahrain

Bahrain confirmed that the Iranian missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which it hosts, and called the attack “treacherous”.

Kuwait

The Ministry of External Affairs condemned 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 further escalation would deepen regional instability.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia condemned the Iranian attack on Gulf Arab states in the “strongest terms” and warned of “dire consequences”.

Pakistan

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar “strongly condemned the unnecessary attacks against Iran and called for an immediate cessation of escalation through an urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated solution to the crisis”.

Russia

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused the US of using it to cover up its nuclear talks with Iran before military operations. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to quickly deliver an objective assessment of what it called irresponsible actions that risk further destabilizing the region.

Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs blamed Iran for a series of events leading to the conflict, including the crackdown on protests earlier this year. “The exact cause of the current events is the Iranian regime’s violence and impunity, particularly the killings and repression of peaceful protesters, which have been particularly widespread in recent months,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Norway

Foreign Minister Espen Barth said Israel’s initial attack on Iran violated the norms of international law. “The attack was described by Israel as a preventive strike, but it was not in accordance with international law,” Barth said. “Preventive attacks require an immediate imminent threat.”

Belgium

Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the Iranian people “must not price their government’s choices. We deeply regret that diplomatic efforts did not lead to an earlier negotiated solution.”