North Korea Denounces US Strikes on Iran
North Korea has condemned the US strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, describing them as a grave violation of a sovereign state's security interests and territorial rights, according to Reuters. Strong Condemnation
'(We) strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US which … violently trampled down the territorial integrity and security interests of a sovereign state,' the unnamed spokesperson said in a statement carried by KCNA news agency.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry said that the US and Israel are the major reasons for the current tensions in the Middle East. These tensions are born out of Jerusalem's 'ceaseless war moves and territorial expansion' accepted and encouraged by the West.'
Both Iran and North Korea have kept friendly relations and have been suspected for decades of military cooperation and ballistic missiles development.
'The just international community should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the U.S. and Israel's confrontational acts,' the statement said. US Strikes on Iran
On Sunday, the US launched airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
'The United States showed that they have no respect to United Nations Charter. They have no respect to international law. They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
Moreover, Araghchi accused Trump of not only betraying Iran by abusing its commitment to diplomacy but also deceiving his own voters by implementing to the wishes of a war criminal.
'He has betrayed not only Iran by abusing our commitment to diplomacy but also deceived his own voters by submitting to the wishes of a wanted war criminal who has grown accustomed to exploiting the lives and wealth of American citizens to further the Israeli regime's objectives,' he added. Israel-Iran War
On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv. Israel also killed three more Iranian nuclear scientists, bringing the total number of scientists slain to nine, Gulf News reported.
Currently, both countries are trading missiles and attacks amid intensifying efforts to halt the conflict.
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If material and technical capacity remain, diplomacy may be the only path to prevent Iran from eventually building a nuclear weapon — a goal the regime could now prioritize more urgently. Even with severe military losses and the effective loss of airspace control, Iran appears undeterred. Hostilities with Israel continue, and the possibility of Iranian retaliation against US targets is growing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the war will not end until Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is removed from power. The US entry into the conflict has triggered a range of diplomatic responses — from enthusiastic support to fierce condemnation. Netanyahu praised Trump's decision as a 'courageous choice' that would 'alter history.' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, called it an 'outrageous, grave and unprecedented violation' of international law, insisting Tehran reserves 'all options' to defend its interests. 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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a 'hazardous escalation,' stressing that 'military solutions are not viable' and urging a return to negotiations. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer — positioning himself as a bridge between the US and Europe — highlighted the danger of the war spreading beyond the region. While stopping short of endorsing the US strikes, he reiterated that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons and called for negotiations to stabilize the region. European powers had previously been pressing for a deal requiring Iran to halt uranium enrichment, curb its missile program and stop supporting proxy groups. But Iran has rejected a full halt, claiming its enrichment is for peaceful purposes. With Western diplomacy faltering, regional actors are stepping in. Most Arab states — including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the Gulf states — have condemned Israel's strikes on Iran and are working to deescalate tensions. 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In geopolitical terms, these 'swing states' balance relationships with Washington, Moscow and Beijing — and can influence outcomes through neutrality or engagement. Katulis believes Riyadh, in particular, could help change the calculus. Right now, he said, Israel and Iran 'have more incentives to engage in military action than they do to pursue diplomacy.' But 'the key powers in the region like Saudi Arabia could do even more than they are already doing to change the calculus for Israel and Iran.' Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel's actions as violations of international law and warned that continued escalation threatens long-term regional stability. The Kingdom has urged the UN Security Council to take meaningful steps to prevent further deterioration and has refused to allow its airspace to be used in military operations — a clear signal of its neutrality and strategic caution. Looking ahead, the stakes remain dangerously high. Maksad has warned that unchecked escalation could have serious consequences. 'The last step in that escalatory ladder is to go after American bases, whether it is in the GCC, or perhaps even attempt to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, where some 20 percent of global energy passes through,' he told CNN. As the war drags on, the fragmented international response highlights the fragility of global diplomacy and the difficulty of conflict resolution in an increasingly multipolar world. For Tehran, halting enrichment altogether would not only undermine decades of strategic investment but also damage regime legitimacy. As Maksad put it, Tehran's 'entire prestige rests on enrichment.' Still, he sees a potential way forward: Focusing not on enrichment itself, but on preventing a weapon. 'That,' he said, 'opens up the possibility of a negotiated outcome.'
