World leaders condemn Israel’s strikes on Iran, call for restraint

Israel launched strikes on military sites in Iran early Saturday in response to an Iranian attack earlier this month, though the targets avoided Iran’s key oil and nuclear facilities amid appeals for restraint from allies and neighboring countries. With the region already gripped by conflict in Gaza and Lebanon, the risk of broader escalation between heavily armed Israel and Iran loomed, though it remained uncertain if the strikes would ignite further hostilities.

The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted facilities that Iran used to make the missiles fired at Israel as well as surface-to-air missile sites. There was no immediate indication that oil or missile sites were hit — strikes that would have marked a much more serious escalation — and Israel offered no immediate damage assessment.

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Here’s the global response to Israel’s strikes on Iranian military sites:

United States of America

“Israel has announced that their response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on October 1st is now complete. As the Israelis have stated, their response was an exercise in self-defense and specifically avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, contrary to Iran’s attack against Israel that targeted Israel’s most populous city. We would refer you to Israeli authorities for more information on their operation.

The United States was not a participant in this operation. It is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region. We urge Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation.”

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Germany

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Iran against any “escalation” after Israel struck Iranian military targets.

“My message to Iran is clear: massive escalating reactions must not continue. These must stop immediately. Only then can we open the possibility of a peaceful evolution in the Middle East,” he posted on X.

Russia

Russia warned on Saturday that an “explosive escalation” in hostilities between Iran and Israel risked spiralling out of control, after Israel bombed military targets in the Islamic republic.

Israel warned Tehran would “pay a heavy price” if it responded to the retaliatory strikes, and the United States and Britain both demanded Iran not escalate the conflict further.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said she was concerned about “the ongoing explosive escalation” in the region.

“We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence and prevent events from developing into a catastrophic scenario,” she said in a statement.

“It is necessary to stop provoking Iran into retaliatory actions and get out of the spiral of uncontrolled escalation,” she added.

United Kingdom’s PM Keir Starmer 

”I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I’m equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond.”

Turkey

Turkey on Saturday condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran and called for an end to what it said was Israel’s “terror” in the region.

“Putting an end to the terror created by Israel in the region has become an historic task for the establishment of international peace and security,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on Iran. By committing genocide in Gaza, preparing to annex the West Bank and killing civilians every day in Lebanon, Israel has brought our region to the brink of a greater war,” the ministry added.

France

”France urges all parties to abstain from any escalation and action that could worsen the extremely tense context in the region.”

Saudi Arabia

”The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation of the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is a violation of its sovereignty and a violation of international laws and norms.

The Kingdom affirms its unwavering position in its rejection of the continued escalation in the region and the expansion of the conflict that threatens the security and stability of the countries and people of the region.

The Kingdom urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and reduce escalation.”

Egypt

”Egypt is following with grave concern the accelerating escalation in the Middle East, the latest of which was the Israeli attack on Iran this morning, and condemns all actions that threaten the security and stability of the region… ”

”Egypt stresses its position that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip should be reached quickly within the framework of a deal through which hostages are released given that it is the only way to de-escalate.”

Pakistan

”Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These strikes undermine (the) path to regional peace and stability and also constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region.

Israel bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation and expansion of the conflict. We call on the UN Security council to play its role for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to take immediate steps to bring an end to Israeli recklessness in the region and its criminal behaviour.”

United Arab Emirates

”The UAE strongly condemns the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expresses deep concern over the continued escalation and its impact on regional security and stability.”

The ministry emphasized the ”importance of exercising the highest levels of restraint and wisdom to avoid risks and the expansion of conflict”.

Iraq

Israel ”continues its aggressive policies and expansion of conflict in the region, employing blatant acts of aggression without deterrence. This time, its hand of aggression has targeted the Islamic Republic of Iran through an airstrike on Iranian targets early this morning.

The statement said Iraq ”reiterates its firm stance calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and for comprehensive regional and international efforts to support stability in the region”.

Hamas

”The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) strongly condemns the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting military sites in multiple provinces. We consider this a flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region and the safety of its people, placing full responsibility on the occupation for the consequences of this aggression, supported by the United States of America.”