World leaders react to US attack on Iran
June 22 (Reuters) - The reaction of world leaders after U.S. forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday Iran time ranged from Israel lauding President Donald Trump's decision to the U.N. calling for de-escalation and some countries condemning the attacks.
ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, RECORDED STATEMENT:
"Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history... History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons."
"I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. 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. I call on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law. At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace."
VENEZUELA FOREIGN MINISTER YVAN GIL, ON TELEGRAM:
"Venezuela Condemns U.S. Military Aggression Against Iran and Demands an Immediate Cessation of Hostilities. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes."
MEXICO FOREIGN MINISTRY, ON X:
"The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict. In keeping with our constitutional principles of foreign policy and our country's pacifist conviction, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region. The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region is the highest priority."
CUBA PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL, ON X:
"We strongly condemn the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, which constitutes a dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
38 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Urgent' need for de-escalation after US strikes on Iran
An 'urgent' de-escalation is needed in the Middle East, the Irish foreign affairs minister said after the US struck nuclear sites in Iran. Simon Harris said a 'dangerous' escalation between Iran and Israel is more real and more likely than ever before. Mr Harris, who is also Ireland's deputy premier, said staff from the Irish embassy in Tehran left the country on Friday, and that he is being updated on Irish peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. 'I am closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East following military action by the United States on three nuclear facilities in Iran overnight,' Mr Harris said. 'The risk of an extremely dangerous spiral of escalation in relation to Iran and Israel is now more real and more likely than ever before. 'There is an urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. This has been the focus of my engagement with EU partners and countries in the region since this current crisis began. It will remain Ireland's priority in the hours and days ahead.' Mr Harris said Ireland and Europe are 'fully united in the clear view' that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. 'The way to address this was always through a negotiated solution. Any alternative to that is simply too dangerous for civilians, for the Middle East region and for global security.' He said the International Atomic Energy Agency's statement on Sunday is 'a stark reminder of these dangers'. He added: 'While there is no initial reporting of any increase in off-site radiation levels as a result of overnight developments, it is a warning as to how easily that could change should further escalation occur, and the disaster that could pose. 'Together with my EU counterparts, we will in the coming hours and days discuss and review the latest developments and consider the next steps Europe can usefully play to support de-escalation.'
Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh woman living in war torn country fears 'start of World War III'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh woman living under daily bombardment in Tel Aviv in Israel fears Benjamin Netanyahu's strikes on Iran could lead to World War III. Danielle Bett, a Scottish-Israeli who was born in the capital, is an opponent of the Israeli PM's 'horrific' military action in Gaza, has said she worried the country's reputation could be tarnished forever. The 35-year-old, who now lives in the Ramat Gan area, said residents were struggling to cope with their 'dystopian' new lives after Netanyahu plunged the nation into a war against Iran on June 13, reports The Sunday Mail. She spoke of local businesses shuttered up and nightly trips to bomb shelters as an unprecedented barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles rain down on her community. Our sister publication, the Sunday Mail, spoke to Danielle on Thursday, June 19, just hours after a missile strike injured dozens of people in a business district close to her home. Danielle, who works for a pro-peace Jewish charity and has taken part in protests against the assault on Gaza, said: 'It hasn't been a fun week. People are just incredibly exhausted. 'Obviously, this is a country that has gotten quite used to rounds of war and bomb shelters and whatever else, but this is one of the heavier bombardments of bigger missiles that we've had to deal with. "It's a lot scarier. Most nights, you're having to wake up once or twice or more, between 11pm and first thing in the morning. "And the actual bombings themselves are quite terrifying. You can hear very loud explosions from within the bomb shelter, and often you can hear the building shaking, even if it's a kilometre or more away. 'Already Netanyahu has left a pretty terrible legacy for this country, not just in terms of what has been done to Palestinians and the wider region but everything that's happened with democracy in this country. 'Democratic institutions have been worn down by his government and his willingness to legitimise the far-right and bring them into power. It's important to remember the difference between him and his government and ordinary civilians just trying to get through the day. 'We can't pick and choose when it comes to human lives, who we see as innocent when it comes to civilians, be it a hospital in Gaza or a hospital in Israel. 'We're so concerned with who are the bad guys and who are not that we've stopped separating governments who actually have the power and responsibility from populations. 'In this region, that's become incredibly dehumanising.' Danielle questioned Netanyahu's motives in escalating the Iran conflict at a time when he faces corruption charges and unpopularity at home. She added: 'It is both true - and it is true - that Iran is a serious threat and also that there are very big question over the current Israeli leadership. 'In the war in Gaza, Netanyahu has proven himself to be inadequate and unable to save the Israeli hostages who are still there. 'I can't say, even with the threat of Iran, that I can put my faith in what I see as a very dangerous leadership. 'Unfortunately, the same goes for Trump's interventions and his comments which have been so unclear.' Danielle, who is active on X as @daniellebett in opposing war and civilian suffering in the Middle East, added she was wary of any direct Western military involvement - including from Keir Starmer's UK Government. She said: 'I definitely have concerns about US involvement. 'We need to know if their end game is to reach a diplomatic resolution with Iran with regards to the nuclear programme, or if this is going to spill over into a regional war, or indeed, a global war. 'The level of instability in this region really needs to be taken into account. I'm very wary of this escalating without knowing what the plan is. 'Clearly, Iran is also a concern for the UK and others in Europe. "When it comes to helping with defence, defending civilians from missile launches which the UK has helped with in the past, that's one thing I would put support behind. I think protecting civilians on the ground is the most important thing, not just for us but for everyone. "But diplomacy is always the thing that's brought us the most security… that is what brings us safety, not war."
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
What a difference a week makes: Trump falls into the Netanyahu trap
When he was elected, Donald Trump suggested he could hammer out a new relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister who was used to getting his way with the White House. But after just over 150 days in office, it appears Trump has fallen into the same trap as his predecessors – and launched the most consequential strike on Iran in generations. From early suggestions that the Trump administration would rein in Netanyahu's military ambitions, it now appears that the Israeli PM has manoeuvred the US into striking Iranian uranium enrichment sites directly after a series of military attacks that Washington was unable to deter the Israeli PM from. And the US is now bracing for a retaliation that could easily bring it into a full-scale war. Days before his inauguration, Trump's envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff barrelled into Israel with a demand to meet Netanyahu on Shabbat in order to strongarm him into negotiating a ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza. Senior officials at the time chalked that up to the 'Trump factor' – a reference to the unpredictability and dealmaking prowess of the US president – which could provide a decisive edge in dealing with the forceful Israeli PM. While Netanyahu had been able to manoeuvre previous administrations into supporting his military adventures in the region, some critics of Israel began to laud Trump for his ability to resist Netanyahu's pull. But after the events of Saturday – when US B-2 bombers pounded targets in Iran for the first time since Israel began to launch strikes last week – it was clear that Trump's intuition had changed. Members of his inner entourage also shifted from a Maga isolationist approach to foreign policy to a more hawkish stance. Trump's public aversion to war and his promises as a candidate not to embroil the US in further conflicts abroad was evaporating less than 200 days after he came into office. When he appeared in public, Trump sought to put rumours of a troubled relationship with Netanyahu to rest. And he tried to show that US policy was in lockstep with Israel, rejecting suggestions that Israel had blindsided the US by pursuing an aggressive bombing campaign against Iran. 'I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu,' Trump said. 'We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.' It was a far cry from the initial US reaction to Israeli bombing raids on targets in Iran, when the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, called the strikes 'unilateral' and said the US was 'not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region'. What a difference a week makes. The US now appears to have fully endorsed the Israeli strikes and joined the attack, potentially setting the stage for a series of escalations that could lead to a new war in the Middle East. What does this mean for the future? Trump has claimed in public and private that the US strikes on the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan enrichment sites were one-off missions and could be contained. US forces in the Middle East have been warned of the potential for Iranian retaliation attacks, and Trump has warned Tehran that the US is ready to carry out further strikes if it is targeted directly. Yet his own administration officials, including the vice-president, JD Vance, have warned of the potential for a limited strike to creep into a longer-term mission in Iran if Tehran retaliates. For now, Trump continues to try to tread a middle ground, launching strikes but suggesting that he can prevent an escalation leading to a protracted war. Yet the key US ally in the Middle East appears only emboldened by Trump's raid. 'Congratulations, President Trump, your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,' Netanyahu said in a video statement.
