World reacts to Israeli strike on Iran over nuclear activity
Israel launched wide-scale strikes on Iran on Friday.
Following is global reaction:
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER:
'We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history.
'Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.'
AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER:
'The Zionist regime has committed a crime in our country today [Friday] at dawn with its satanic, bloodstained hands.
'That regime should anticipate a severe punishment. By God's grace, the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic's armed forces won't let them go unpunished.
'With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared for itself a bitter, painful fate, which it will definitely see.'
MARCO RUBIO, US SECRETARY OF STATE:
'Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our priority is protecting American forces in the region.
'Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.'
'The secretary-general condemns any military escalation in the Middle East. He is particularly concerned by Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran while talks between Iran and the US on the status of Iran's nuclear programme are under way.
'The secretary-general asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation the region can hardly afford.'
OMAN, WHICH IS MEDIATING IRAN-US NUCLEAR TALKS:
'Oman considers this act a dangerous, reckless escalation, representing a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, the principles of international law. Such aggressive, persistent behaviour is unacceptable and further destabilises regional peace and security.
'The Sultanate of Oman holds Israel responsible for this escalation and its consequences and calls upon the international community to adopt a firm and unequivocal stance to halt this dangerous course of action.'
MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL:
'This was a unilateral action by Israel. So I think it is crucial for many allies, including the US, to work as we speak to de-escalate.'
JEAN-NOEL BARROT, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER:
'We call on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could compromise regional stability.
'We have repeatedly expressed our concerns regarding Iran's nuclear programme, notably in the resolution recently adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency. We reaffirm Israel's right to defend itself against any attack.'
LIN JIAN, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON:
'China opposes the violation of Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, opposes the intensification of contradictions, the expansion of conflicts and the sudden rise in temperature of the regional situation.
'China calls on all parties concerned to do more things that promote regional peace and stability and avoid further escalation of the tense situation. China is willing to play a constructive role in easing the situation.'
TURKEY
Said Israel's provocation shows it 'does not want issues to be resolved through diplomatic means' and urged it to halt 'aggressive actions that could lead to greater conflicts'.
KEIR STARMER, UK PRIME MINISTER:
'Escalation serves no-one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.'
PENNY WONG, AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER:
'This risks further destabilising a region that is already volatile. We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that will further worsen tensions.
'We understand the threat of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme represents a threat to international peace and security and we urge the parties to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy.'
CHRISTOPHER LUXON, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER:
'It's an unwelcome development in the Middle East. The risk of miscalculation is high. That region does not need any more military action and risk associated with that.'
TAKESHI IWAYA, JAPAN FOREIGN MINISTER:
'Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including talks between the US and Iran, to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, the use of military force is deeply regrettable.
'The government strongly condemns this action, which escalates the situation.'
JAN LIPAVSKY, CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER:
'I have a great deal of understanding for military action to deter the production of a nuclear bomb in the region.'
INDONESIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY:
'Indonesia strongly condemns Israel's attack on Iran.
'The attack risks worsening existing regional tensions and could potentially trigger a broader conflict. All parties must exercise the utmost restraint and avoid any actions that might escalate tensions or cause further instability.'
SAUDI ARABIA:
'Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms.'
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The South African
39 minutes ago
- The South African
'Change history', 'declaration of war': World reacts to US attack on Iran
The United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday, joining Israel's bombing campaign after days of speculation over Washington's involvement in the conflict. 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,' US President Donald Trump said after the strikes. Here is a roundup of the key reactions: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks as 'outrageous' and said his country had a right to defend its sovereignty. 'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,' he posted on social media, calling the attacks 'lawless and criminal' behaviour. Araghchi later said the United States and Israel crossed 'a very big red line' with the attacks, and said he would head to Moscow later Sunday for talks with President Vladimir Putin. Israel: 'Change history' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, saying the attacks would 'help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace'. '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 message, adding that the attacks demonstrated 'America has been truly unsurpassed'. He also told Israelis that his promise to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities had been 'fulfilled'. The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations. 'I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,' Kallas wrote on X, adding that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers would discuss the situation on Monday. Russia 'strongly condemned' the bombings, calling them 'irresponsible' and a 'gross violation of international law'. 'A dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security,' the Russian foreign ministry added. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the strikes were justified to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, praising them as a 'clear signal'. '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,' it said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strikes a 'dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge'. 'There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,' Guterres said in a statement. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation warned that the strikes could lead to 'heightened tensions and threaten regional security, peace, and stability'. It called for 'de-escalation and self-restraint, and for resorting to dialogue and returning to negotiations and peaceful means.' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to 'return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis'. 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,' Starmer said on X, adding that 'stability in the region is a priority'. French President Emmanuel Macron has called a meeting of the country's defence council for Sunday, with his office saying he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman on Sunday. France is urging 'all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict', Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X. China's foreign ministry said it 'strongly condemns' the US strikes, warning that they 'escalate tensions in the Middle East'. 'China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible,' the ministry said. Pope Leo XIV said after the strikes that 'humanity is crying out for peace' and called for an end to all wars. 'Each member of the international community has the moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war, before it becomes an irreparable chasm,' Leo said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican. Saudi Arabia expressed 'great concern' after the strikes on its neighbour, the 'sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran'. 'The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation,' the foreign ministry posted on X. Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim country and a longtime Washington ally, said the US attacks 'violate all norms of international law'. 'We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region,' Pakistan's foreign ministry said, adding that Iran had the 'right to defend itself under the UN Charter'. The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the 'blatant US aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran'. 'This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation,' Hamas said, calling the attack 'a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to international peace and security'. Yemen's Houthi rebel government, which is backed by Iran, condemned the US attacks and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people. 'The Trump administration's reckless aggression… is a blatant declaration of war against the brotherly Iranian people. We declare our full support for the brotherly Iranian people,' it said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. © Agence France-Presse
Eyewitness News
an hour ago
- Eyewitness News
Trump says US strikes 'obliterated' Iran nuclear sites
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said US air strikes on Sunday "totally obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites, with Tehran later accusing Washington of "blowing up" talks aimed at a deal on its nuclear programme. Following the attack - the United States' first large-scale strikes on Iran - Trump warned Washington would hit more targets if Tehran did not make peace. Hours later, Iran launched two waves of attacks against long-time foe Israel. "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said, adding the key underground enrichment site at Fordo was hit, along with facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace," he said, warning future attacks would be "far greater" unless a diplomatic solution was reached. "Remember, there are many targets left." Trump's intervention - despite his past pledges to avoid another "forever war" - threatens to dramatically widen the conflict, after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran last week, with Tehran vowing to retaliate if Washington joined in. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of sabotaging diplomacy after talks with European powers. "This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy," he wrote on X. Aragchi later told reporters in Istanbul the United States and Israel had "crossed a very big red line", asserting Iran would continue to defend itself "by all means necessary". 'CHANGE HISTORY' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US strikes, saying Trump's decision to "target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history". In response to the US attack, Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, the country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv. Israeli rescuers said at least 23 people were wounded. Police said at least three impacts were reported. One of them was the Ramat Aviv area of Tel Aviv, tearing holes in the facades of apartment blocks. "Houses here were hit very, very badly," said Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai. "Fortunately, one of them was slated for demolition and reconstruction, so there were no residents inside." In Jerusalem, Claudio Hazan, a 62-year-old software engineer, said he hoped the US intervention would hasten an end to the Iran-Israel war. "Israel by itself would not stop... and it would take longer," he said. Israel said it had launched fresh strikes on western Iran and in Qom, south of Tehran. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported four Revolutionary Guard members were killed in strikes on a military base in the city's north. The Israeli military said it had "struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago". In Tehran, AFP journalists said the roar of aircraft flying over the city could be heard repeatedly for the first time since Israel's initial attacks. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following the strikes and Tehran said Sunday there were "no signs of contamination". 'STEP BACK' Saudi Arabia said no radioactive effects were detected in the Gulf and voiced "great concern" over the US strikes. The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US move and urged de-escalation. The European Union called on all sides "to step back", while stressing Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to "return to the negotiating table" over its nuclear ambitions. The Iranian foreign minister said he would travel to Moscow for "serious consultations" with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. US media reported the strikes were carried out by B-2 stealth bombers dropping bunker-buster bombs, as well as submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. Following his address, Trump warned Iran against "any retaliation". Iran and its proxies have previously attacked US military bases in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. Iran's Huthi allies in Yemen on Sunday repeated their threat to resume attacks in the Red Sea if Washington joined the war, saying they were "ready to target US ships and warships". The US president had stepped up his rhetoric against Iran since Israel first struck Iran on June 13, repeating his insistence it could never have nuclear weapons. Israel and Iran have traded wave after wave of devastating strikes since then. Tehran denies seeking an atomic bomb. On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran's right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme "cannot be taken away... by threats or war".
eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Rising tensions as missiles light up the skies
TEHRAN - Violent scenes coming from Iran as missiles light up the sky. READ: Iran foreign minister says US attacks on nuclear sites 'outrageous' The conflict between Israel and Iran has taken a dramatic turn, with the US now directly involved. President Donald Trump has confirmed US strikes on three critical Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan claiming they have been 'completely and totally obliterated. Afro-Middle East Centre Director Na'eem Jeenah discussed the latest developments in the Middle-East.
