The response from world leaders to the United States and Israel\u2019s Saturday attack on Iran was a mixture of support, condemnation, and calls for caution and restraint.<\/p>\n
The U.S. and Israel announced their strikes on the Middle Eastern nation in the early hours of Saturday morning after weeks of President Donald Trump threatening Iran over their nuclear deal program. The strikes hit the capital Tehran, as well as Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, Tabriz and Isfahan, where there is a major nuclear facility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read More: U.S and Israel Launch Strikes on Iran, as Trump Promises \u2018Massive and Ongoing\u2019 Campaign<\/a><\/p>\n In an eight-minute video posted to Truth Social Saturday, Trump said the operation dubbed \u201cOperation Epic Fury\u201d would be \u201cmassive and ongoing,” looking to \u201cdestroy their missiles and raze their missile industry.\u201d Iran\u2019s initial response was a series of strikes on U.S. military bases in Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Iran’s foreign minister has promised<\/a> in a statement that its armed forces \u201cwill respond to the aggressors with authority.\u201d<\/p>\n Read More: Does Trump Have the Legal Authority to Strike Iran? An Expert Explains<\/a><\/p>\n In the hours after the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes, Russia and China released statements in support of Iran, while Canada, Australia and Ukraine were among those who expressed support for the U.S. and Israel. Several world leaders urged restraint and de-escalation on both sides moving forward.<\/p>\n Here is a round up of what world leaders have said about the operation that has begun war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n United Kingdom\u00a0<\/p>\n Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee as the country weighs its response to the attacks and Tehran\u2019s retaliation across the Gulf.<\/p>\n It did not participate in the military action, but the country had deployed RAF Typhoons to Qatar to protect the al-Udeid airbase and allied bases across the region.<\/p>\n The UK government on Saturday said in a statement it \u201cdoes not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict.\u201d Still, a government spokesperson emphasized that \u201cIran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution.\u201d<\/p>\n Starmer released a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron and\u00a0 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, telling Iran to stop their retaliatory attacks on countries in the Middle East.<\/p>\n \u201cWe condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms,\u201d the joint statement reads. \u201cWe call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.\u201d<\/p>\n Russia<\/p>\n Russia condemned the U.S. and Israel\u2019s attack, calling it\u00a0 \u201ca pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state,\u201d in a statement from Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry posted to Telegram<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n It accused the U.S. and Israel of\u00a0 \u201cplunging the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation\u201d and said the attacks could cause a \u201chumanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe\u201d in the Middle East.<\/p>\n China<\/p>\n China\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on X <\/a>that \u201cIran\u2019s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChina 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,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n France<\/p>\n In addition to the joint statement with the leaders of the United Kingdom and Germany, French President Emmanuel Macron said on X<\/a>, in a post originally in French, that the escalation \u201cis dangerous for all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt must stop,\u201d he added. \u201cThe Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good faith in negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as its regional destabilization activities. This is absolutely necessary for the security of all in the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n He called for an \u201curgent\u201d meeting of the United Nations Security Council.<\/p>\n European Union<\/p>\n Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union’s chief executive, said in a statement on social media<\/a> that the EU has \u201cconsistently promoted diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the nuclear and ballistic programmes through a negotiated solution.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Canada<\/p>\n Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on X<\/a> that Canada supports the U.S. \u201cacting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCanada’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.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said in a statement on X that the country backs the U.S. in their military operation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The country also updated their travel recommendations to \u201cDo Not Travel\u201d for Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n Pakistan<\/p>\n Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement<\/a> Saturday condemning what it calls \u201cunwarranted attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran,\u201d as well as retaliatory attacks by \u201cIran against the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ministry confirmed that a Pakistani national was killed in the UAE during the attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe urge all sides to refrain from any further actions that may undermine the security and territorial integrity of other regional countries,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n India<\/p>\n India\u2019s Ministry of Foreign affairs said in a statement<\/a> that the country is \u201cdeeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians,\u201d it continues. \u201cDialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected.\u201d<\/p>\n Spain<\/p>\n Spain Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez called on X<\/a> for \u201c immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law,\u201d decrying the potential for another \u201cprolonged\u201d war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n \u201cWe reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order,\u201d he said. \u201cWe likewise reject the actions of the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard.\u201d<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n The Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned Iran\u2019s retaliatory strikes across the region in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns and denounces in strongest terms the blatant Iranian aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the U.A.E., Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan,\u201d\u00a0 the statement reads.<\/p>\n United Arab Emirates<\/p>\n After the UAE was hit by retaliatory strikes from Iran, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned<\/a> its neighbor in a statement, calling the strikes a\u00a0 \u201cflagrant violation of national sovereignty and a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe UAE underscored that it retains its full and legitimate right to respond to these attacks in a manner that safeguards its sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity, and ensures the safety of its citizens and residents, in accordance with international law,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n Oman<\/p>\n Oman\u2019s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi said on X<\/a> Saturday after the attacks that he was \u201cdismayed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActive and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined,\u201d said Al Busaidi, who has been a key mediator in recent U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. \u201cNeither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer.\u201d<\/p>\n United Nations<\/p>\n Volker T\u00fcrk, the UN\u2019s Human Rights Commissioner, criticized both the strikes against Iran, and Iran\u2019s retaliatory strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cAs always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price,\u201d he said in a statement on Saturday. \u201cI call for restraint and implore all parties to see reason, to de-escalate, and for a return to the ‘negotiating table’ where they had been actively seeking a solution only hours earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres also condemned military action on all sides of the conflict.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability,\u201d Guterres said on X<\/a><\/p>\n He also pointed out in the post that the UN\u2019s Charter prohibits \u201cthe threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n Ukraine<\/p>\n Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Iran for being \u201cPutin\u2019s accomplice\u201d in a post on X reacting<\/a> to the escalation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important that the United States is acting decisively. Whenever there is American resolve, global criminals weaken. This understanding must also come to the Russians.\u201d<\/p>\n Albania<\/p>\n Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama said on X <\/a>that Albania stands \u201cfirm with Israel and with the peace-seeking brotherly Arab countries\u201d and that it supports the United States\u2019 military contribution.<\/p>\n \u201cWe fully endorse every decisive effort to prevent once and for all the murderers in Tehran from acquiring nuclear or any other military capacity to harm Israel or any other peace-loving nation in the Middle East,\u201d Rama said. \u201cTerrorism must be named. And once named, it must be stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n Hungary<\/p>\n Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, a Trump ally in Europe, immediately expressed concerns for how the strikes would impact oil prices. The strikes, he told reporters<\/a>, \u201cdoubled the importance of the Friendship oil pipeline,\u201d which runs through Ukraine. Shipments of Russian oil have been disrupted since January, and Orb\u00e1n has accused Ukraine of imposing<\/a> an \u201coil blockade.\u201d<\/p>\n Kuwait<\/p>\n Kuwait\u2019s Ali Al Salem Air Base, which is used by the U.S. military, was also targeted as part of Iran\u2019s military retaliation. Kuwait released a statement condemning the Iranian attacks on their soil and asserted their right to respond to the \u201cbrazen attack\u201d via Article 51 of the UN Charter.<\/p>\n Qatar<\/p>\n In similar statements to Kuwait and UAE, Qatar condemned Iran\u2019s retaliatory attacks and reaffirmed their own right to respond, as per international law.<\/p>\n \u201cThe State of Qatar expresses its strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory with Iranian ballistic missiles, considering it a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty, a direct infringement on its security and territorial integrity, and an unacceptable escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region,\u201d the statement, posted to X<\/a>, read.<\/p>\n Lebanon<\/p>\n