Countries in the Middle East and beyond responded with alarm after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as the EU and the UN called for immediate diplomacy, with fears mounting that the war could trigger a wider escalation that could spiral out of control.
Gulf states, which historically have been regional rivals with nearby Iran and critical of its nuclear ambitions, expressed serious concern at the US strikes, amid the risk of retaliation against US military bases hosted in their countries.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US attack and urged de-escalation.
Qatar, which hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East, said on Sunday that it feared there could be serious repercussions regionally and internationally.
Its foreign ministry said in a statement: “The current dangerous escalation in the region may lead to catastrophic consequences at both the regional and international levels.” It said it was calling on all parties “to exercise wisdom, restraint, and to avoid further escalation”.
Gulf leaders including the UAE president, the emir of Qatar and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, who had all hosted Donald Trump last month for a tour of the region, discussed the serious implications of the escalation for international and regional security, the UAE state news agency reported.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, was on a high security alert after the US strikes, expressing “great concern” and stressing the “need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint … and avoid escalation”.
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said he was “gravely alarmed” by the US’s use of force against Iran. He said that “at this perilous hour” it was crucial to “avoid a spiral of chaos”.
He added: “This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control, with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region and the world. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”
Iraq’s government spokesperson, Basim Alawadi, said: “This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability.”
Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim country and a longtime Washington ally, said the US attacks “violate all norms of international law”. Its foreign ministry said in a statement: “We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region.” It said Iran had a legitimate right to defend itself under the UN charter.
Russia “strongly condemned” the US strikes, calling them “irresponsible”, a “gross violation of international law” and a “dangerous escalation”.
EU figures sought to maintain their focus on diplomacy.
European foreign ministers had met their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Switzerland on Friday for more talks to prevent the conflict escalating, but they made no immediate breakthrough and the US strikes came swiftly after.
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called for a de-escalation and a return to negotiations. She said Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, describing the possibility as “a threat to international security”.
“I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,” Kallas wrote on social media. EU foreign ministers will meet to discuss the situation on Monday.
The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, expressed “concern” at the US strikes and said France “did not take part in these strikes or the planning of them”.
He said France urged “restraint from all parties to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict”.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, called for dialogue, saying he had urged Iran to de-escalate and “exercise the utmost restraint in this dangerous context to allow a return to the diplomatic path”.
Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, told the state broadcaster RAI: “Now we hope that, after this attack, which caused massive damage to nuclear weapons production and posed a threat to the entire region, a de-escalation can begin and Iran can sit down at the negotiating table.”
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Iran must “immediately enter into negotiations with the US and Israel and to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict”.
Keir Starmer also called for a return to negotiations. He said in a statement: “Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.”
The New Zealand foreign minister, Winston Peters, said in a statement: “Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided. New Zealand strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy. We urge all parties to return to talks. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action.”
An Australian government spokesperson said: “The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.”
Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yván Gil, said his country “condemned US military aggression against Iran” and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, strongly condemned the US bombing, which he described as “a dangerous escalation”. He wrote on social media: “The aggression seriously violates the UN charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences.”
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, congratulated Trump in a video posted on social media. He said: “History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
Ukraine said the US and Israeli strikes on Iran were justified to prevent Tehran developing nuclear weapons, praising the military intervention as a “clear signal”.
The foreign ministry said: “Ukraine is convinced that Iran’s nuclear programme must be stopped so that it never again poses a threat to the countries of the Middle East or any other state.”
