Washington: The United States overnight military strikes on Iran sparked reactions from world leaders across the globe on Sunday, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres saying he was gravely alarmed by the use of force. A number of countries condemned the strikes as a dangerous escalation in a volatile region, with US allies also calling for a return to negotiations.
According to France24.com, US President Donald Trump had said Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to get involved in Israel’s war with Tehran. In the end, it took just days. Washington hit three Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday. Several world leaders condemned the strikes, emphasizing the need for diplomatic engagement over military action.
China strongly condemned the US strikes on Iran, labeling them a serious violation of international law that further inflamed tensions in the Middle East. The Chinese Foreign Ministry urged all parties, especially Israel, to implement a cease-fire and begin dialogue. “China is willing to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and contribute to the work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East,” the ministry said in a statement.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council, indicated that several countries were prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear weapons. Although he didn’t specify which countries, Medvedev stated that the US attack caused minimal damage and would not deter Tehran from pursuing nuclear arms. Russia’s Foreign Ministry labeled the airstrikes as a gross violation of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions.
Pakistan criticized the US strikes as a deeply disturbing escalation, especially after nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic intervention with the India-Pakistan crisis. “These attacks violate all norms of international law,” the government said, asserting Iran’s legitimate right to self-defense under the UN Charter.
European leaders also voiced their concerns. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran to return to the negotiating table to diplomatically resolve the crisis, prioritizing regional stability. The UK, along with the European Union, France, and Germany, had attempted an unsuccessful diplomatic solution with Iran in Geneva last week. Starmer noted that Iran’s nuclear program posed a grave threat to global security.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, emphasized that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon and urged restraint from all parties involved. She called for a return to negotiations to prevent further escalation. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country is hosting a summit of NATO leaders including Trump, expressed concerns over the escalation and planned to discuss the issue further.
In the region, reactions were mixed but leaned towards de-escalation. The Iraqi government warned that the US military actions posed a grave threat to Middle Eastern peace and security. Spokesman Bassem al-Awadi highlighted the risks of such actions extending beyond borders and endangering global security. Saudi Arabia expressed concern but stopped short of condemning the strikes, emphasizing the need for restraint and dialogue.
Qatar, hosting the largest US military base in the region, expressed regret over the escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict. Meanwhile, both the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas condemned the US strikes. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned of a potential regional conflict and advocated for negotiations, citing Lebanon’s historical burden from regional wars.
Pope Leo XIV, during his Sunday Angelus prayer, made a strong appeal for peace, urging international diplomacy to silence the weapons and prevent the tragedy of war from deepening. He called on the global community to fulfill their moral responsibility to avert an irreparable abyss.