Reaction to Iran’s strikes on Israel has poured in from world leaders, some openly condemning Tehran, others calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and almost all urging restraint during a moment of huge tension in the Middle East.
US President Joe Biden said that the US “is devoted to the defense of Israel.”
“Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Biden said in a statement.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Middle East. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East,” Guterres said in a series of tweets on X.
“I have repeatedly stressed that neither the region nor the world can afford another war.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the attacks “demonstrate yet again the Iranian regime’s disregard for peace and stability in the region. We support Israel’s right to defend itself and its people from these attacks.”
China expressed “deep concern” over the “current escalation”, according to a spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that it was a “spillover of the Gaza conflict” and a ceasefire should be implemented without delay. Beijing called “on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations.”
Pakistan said the attacks were “the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy.”
“For months, Pakistan has underlined the necessity of international efforts to prevent expansion of hostilities in the region and for a ceasefire in Gaza,” read a government statement.
Saudi Arabia, a major regional rival to Iran, stressed the importance of “preventing any further exacerbation” of the crisis, warning of “dire consequences” should the situation worsen.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry called the latest developments a “dangerous escalation”. It said the latest hostilities were “nothing but a direct result of what Egypt has repeatedly warned about, regarding the dangers of expanding the conflict in the region as a result of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, and the provocative military actions being exercised in the region.”
Qatar, which plays a vital role in many Middle East conflicts and enjoys close economic relations with Iran, expressed “profound concern” and called on all parties to “cease escalation, calm tensions, and exercise maximum restraint.”
The United Arab Emirates, which is geographically close to Iran and normalized relations with Israel in 2020, called for an end to regional escalation to avoid “dangerous repercussions” and warned of “new levels of instability.”
In a statement on X, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK would “continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all of its regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq.
Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard,” Sunak said.
Ireland, whose leader has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, called on both Iran and Israel to “show restraint” and “avoid any escalation” following a “reckless attack” by Iran.
Adding to this were also statements from leaders in European countries like Germany, Denmark, France, Norway and Austria.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attacks “blatant and unjustifiable.” “All actors must now refrain from further escalation and work to restore stability in the region,” Von der Leyen said.
