Israeli strikes in Iran: condemnations and calls for restraint for fear of escalation

– Iran –

Tehran condemned the strikes on its territory, saying Iran had “the right and the duty to defend itself.”

“Iran considers that it has the right and duty to defend itself against foreign acts of aggression, based on the inherent right of self-defense contained in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter,” according to a statement from Iranian diplomacy.

– Russia –

Moscow expressed concern about an “ongoing explosive escalation between Israel and the Islamic Republic, which poses real threats to the stability and security of the region.”

“We call on all parties concerned to exercise restraint,” added in a statement the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova.

– European Union –

“The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks provoking a further extension of the regional conflict,” the EU warned in a statement.

“While recognising Israel's right to self-defence, the EU calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid an uncontrollable escalation,” according to the text.

– Turkey –

Turkish diplomacy called for “putting an end to the terror created by Israel in the region” and “condemned” the Israeli strikes.

“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,” according to Ankara.

– Saudi Arabia –

Riyadh condemned the Israeli strikes in Iran, warning against any spread of the conflict in the region, where Israel is at war with the Palestinian Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns” the Israeli strikes in Iran and reiterates its “firm position of rejecting the escalation of the conflict in the region”, which “threatens the security and stability of countries and peoples” in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X.

– Pakistan –

Pakistan also “condemned” the Israeli strikes, placing “full responsibility for the escalation and spread of the conflict” on Israel, which it does not recognize.

Pakistan, a major regional ally of the United States, shares a long border with Iran.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X that he was “very concerned about the Israeli aggression against Iran”.

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– Iraq –

The Iraqi government has warned of “dangerous consequences” resulting from the “silence of the international community” in the face of Israel's “brutal behavior.”

Government spokesman Basim Alawadi accused Israel of continuing “the expansion of the conflict in the region” with “attacks carried out with impunity.”

– Syria –

Expressing its “solidarity” with Tehran, Syria supported “Iran's legitimate right to defend itself” against “Israeli aggression,” which it condemned.

– Jordan –

Jordan also “condemned” the Israeli strikes. The kingdom expressed its “absolute rejection of the dangerous escalation in the region and violations of international law.”

– Afghanistan –

The Taliban denounced “an attempt to escalate violence in the region that further complicates” the situation.

– United Kingdom –

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Iran should “not respond” to Israeli strikes.

Iran's air defense system © AFP – Paz PIZARRO, Sylvie HUSSON

“It is clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression, and it is equally clear that we must avoid further regional escalation, and I urge all parties to exercise restraint,” he said.

– France –

France called on the parties involved “to refrain from any escalation and action likely to aggravate the context of extreme tension” in the Middle East, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

– Germany –

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also warned Tehran on Saturday against any “escalation.” “This must stop now. Only then will the possibility of peaceful developments in the Middle East open up,” Scholz said on X.

– Venezuela –

Venezuela “rejects and condemns the attacks perpetrated by the Zionist regime of Netanyahu (…) which constitute a new unjustified act of aggression,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denouncing Israel's “terrorist and genocidal actions against Palestine and Lebanon.”

– Algeria –

Algeria expressed “its solidarity with its brothers in Iran after this odious aggression” carried out “by the Israeli occupation army,” which has plunged the region “into an endless cycle insecurity, instability and lack of peace”.

– Tunisia –

Tunisia has warned “of the serious consequences of the attacks carried out by the Zionist entity (…) in a frantic attempt to trigger a devastating regional war”.

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