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. A number of world leaders have condemned the strikes, with US allies also calling for a return to the negotiating table.
China strongly condemned the US strikes on Iran, calling 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 expressed its willingness to work with the international community to uphold justice and contribute to restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.
Russia's response was similarly critical. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of President Vladimir Putin's Security Council, suggested that several countries were prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear weapons. Although he did not specify which countries, Medvedev noted that the US attack caused minimal damage and would not deter Tehran from pursuing nuclear arms. Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned the airstrikes as a gross violation of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions.
In Pakistan, the government expressed deep concern over the US strikes, describing them as a disturbing escalation, especially in light of the recent nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts in the India-Pakistan crisis. The Pakistani government emphasized that these attacks violate international norms and stated that Iran has the legitimate right to defend itself under the UN Charter.
In Europe, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for Iran to return to the negotiating table, emphasizing that stability was the priority in the volatile region. Despite efforts from the UK, the European Union, France, and Germany to broker a diplomatic solution in Geneva last week, no agreement was reached. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged all parties to step back, return to negotiations, and prevent further escalation.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country is hosting a summit of NATO leaders including Trump, announced that the national security council would convene to discuss the issue. Veldkamp remarked that the US attacks amounted to a further escalation of an already concerning situation in the Middle East.
Regionally, reactions were mixed. The Iraqi government warned that the US military escalation posed a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia expressed deep concern over the airstrikes but refrained from outright condemnation. Qatar, hosting the largest US military base in the Middle East, expressed regret over the escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun cautioned that the US bombing could lead to a regional conflict that no country could bear, advocating for negotiations. Lebanon, having suffered from wars in the region, expressed its unwillingness to endure further conflict.
Pope Leo XIV, during his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, made a heartfelt appeal for peace. He urged the international community to fulfill their moral responsibility to halt the war before it leads to an irreparable situation.