Allies and adversaries reacted sharply to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling the situation grave and urging restraint to prevent a wider Middle East war.
European Union: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the developments as “greatly concerning,” stressing the need for sanctions on Iran’s regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to protect nuclear safety and the global non-proliferation regime. She reiterated the EU’s preference for diplomatic negotiations and urged maximum restraint, civilian protection, and respect for international law. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said she had spoken with Israeli and regional officials and that the EU is coordinating with Arab partners to pursue diplomatic avenues. A European naval mission in the Red Sea was put on high alert to help keep maritime corridors open.
United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the military escalation, warning it undermines international peace and security. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation, saying continued fighting risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians. The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency session.
Russia: Moscow strongly condemned the strikes, accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of driving the region toward humanitarian, economic and potential radiological disaster. The Russian foreign ministry called for a return to political and diplomatic channels. President Vladimir Putin labeled the killing of Iranian leaders a “cynical” murder that violated moral and international norms.
United Kingdom: A U.K. government spokesperson reiterated that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and said Britain supports efforts toward a negotiated solution. The U.K. did not take part in the strikes; Prime Minister Keir Starmer planned to chair an emergency ministerial meeting and said Britain stood ready to protect its interests while seeking to prevent wider escalation.
France: President Emmanuel Macron warned that the outbreak of war would carry grave consequences for international peace and security. He said France is prepared to deploy resources to protect partners if requested, urged Iran to engage in good-faith negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs and regional destabilizing actions, and voiced support for the Iranian people.
Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney called Iran a principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East with a poor human rights record. He said Canada supports U.S. actions aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and further threatening international peace.
Oman: Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who had been mediating U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, said he was “dismayed,” lamenting that active negotiations had been undermined. He urged the United States not to become further embroiled, saying “this is not your war.”
Kuwait and Qatar: Kuwait condemned what it called a “heinous Iranian attack” and affirmed its right to defend itself under international law. Qatar described the strikes as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and an unacceptable escalation, calling for an immediate halt to escalatory actions, a return to dialogue, and efforts to contain the crisis to preserve regional security.
North Korea and Cuba: North Korea denounced the U.S.-Israeli action as an “illegal act of aggression,” accusing U.S. policy of a “gangster-like” character. Cuba condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, saying they violate Iran’s sovereignty and international law, undermine diplomatic nuclear efforts, and called for an immediate stop to the aggression.
Across the globe, leaders and international institutions emphasized the need to avoid civilian harm, uphold international law, and return to diplomacy to prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader regional war.