World leaders urged restraint Friday after Israel beat Iran, hitting 100 targets, including nuclear and military sites, and killing higher figures.
At least 20 high Iranian commanders, including the chief of the revolutionary guards, the commander of the aerospace force Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were killed in the strikes of Israel, said two regional sources told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would make Israel “regret” his deadly attack.
“The Iranian nation and the country officials will not remain silent in the face of this crime, and the legitimate and powerful response of the Islamic Republic of Iran will regret the enemy of its stupid act,” Pezeshkian said in a video declaration broadcast on state television.
Here is an overview of key reactions:
‘Can’t have a nuclear bomb: United States
“There has already been a great death and destruction, but it is still time to make this massacre, the next attacks already planned being even brighter, ended,” said US President Donald Trump on his social platform of truth, adding that Israel has a lot of weapons thanks to the United States and “they know how to use it”.
Earlier in the day, Trump told Fox News that “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we hope to return to the negotiating table”.
‘Remanty mastimum’: a
The UN chief, Antonio Guterres, asked “the two parties to show a maximum reservoir, avoiding at all costs a descent into a deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” according to a spokesperson.
Guterres was “particularly concerned” by Israel’s strikes on nuclear installations in the midst of American-Iranian negotiations.
“ Unacceptable ” and “not provoked”: Russia
“Russia is worried and condemns the strong escalation of tensions,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told press agencies, calling “unacceptable” and “not provoked” strikes, while the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv urged the Russians in Israel to leave the country.
“Deeply worried”: China
“The Chinese side … is deeply worried about the serious consequences that such actions could bring,” said the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, calling “relevant parties to take measures that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid additional climbing of tensions”.
“Best way diplomacy”: EU
“The situation in the Middle East is dangerous. I urge all the parties to exercise a restraint and prevent a new escalation. Diplomacy remains the best way to follow, and I am ready to support diplomatic efforts to de-escalation,” said Kaja Kallas, head of the EU foreign policy.
‘Right to defend yourself’: France
French President Emmanuel Macron called “all parties to exercise maximum restraint and defuse” and “avoid endangering the stability of the whole region”.
Avoid “additional escalation”: Germany
Germany, which for years expressed its concerns concerning the “advanced nuclear weapons program” of Iran, said that it was “ready to use all diplomatic means at our disposal to influence the parties to the conflict. The goal must remain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons”.
“Dangerous escalation”: Hamas
“This assault is a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilize the region,” said the Palestinian militant group supported by Iran, whose attack on October 2023 against Israel sparked the Gaza War.
Threaten to “trigger the region”: Hezbollah
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said about Israel: “This enemy has no logic or laws and only knows the language of murder, fire and destruction”, adding that the “brutal” strike threatened to “light the region”.
“Threat to international peace”: Iraq
Iraq firmly condemned attacks, saying: “This act represents a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, and constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security.”
No “battlefield”: Jordan
“Jordan does not have and will allow no violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the kingdom will not be a battlefield for any conflict,” a government spokesman for AFP told Jordan closed his air space.
“Dangerous approach”: Oman
The mediator of nuclear conferences, Oman, said that “calls on the international community to adopt a clear and firm position to put an end to this dangerous approach, which threatens to exclude diplomatic solutions and compromise the security and stability of the region”.
“Strong conviction”: Qatar
The mediator of Gaza Qatar expressed “his strong conviction and denunciation of the Israeli attack,” said the Golf State Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that “dangerous escalation threatens the region’s security and stability and hinders efforts to defuse and reach diplomatic solutions”.
“Aggressive actions”: Turkiye
“Israel’s attacks on our neighbor Iran are a clear provocation that does not take into account international law,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a vocal critic of Israel and a fervent defender of the Palestinian cause, urging the international community to “end an Israeli bander”.
“Reduce tensions urgently”: United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The reports of these strikes are worrying and we urge all the parties to take a step back and urgently reduce tensions. Climbing does not serve anyone in the region.”
“ Legitimate right to defend yourself ”: Huthis du Yemen
The Huthi rebels supported by Tehran said that they supported “the full and legitimate law of Iran to … develop its nuclear program” and that “we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirmed its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means”.
– with an additional reuters input
