CAIRO, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) — The United States and Israel on Saturday launched a surprise strike on Iran, prompting Iranian missile attacks on Israel and U.S. targets across several countries in the region.
The following is a recap of the international community’s responses:
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China
China is highly concerned over military strikes against Iran launched by the United States and Israel, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release, stressing that Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected.
Russia
In a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the “unprovoked armed attack” by the United States and Israel on Iran, and urged an immediate halt to the strikes.
Oman
“I am dismayed,” Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, the mediator of recent Iranian-U.S. negotiations, said in a post on social media.
“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this … I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war,” he said.
Brazil
“The Brazilian government condemns and expresses grave concern regarding the attacks,” the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, calling on “all parties to respect international law and exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid an escalation of hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
Norway
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed concerns about the attack. “The attack is described by Israel as a preventive strike, but it is not in line with international law,” the minister said in a statement. “Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat.”
France
“The outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran carries grave consequences for international peace and security,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement, stressing that the ongoing escalation is dangerous for all and must stop.
Pakistan
In a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar strongly condemned the “unwarranted attacks” against Iran and called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis.
Egypt
In a Foreign Ministry statement, Egypt expressed its deep concern over the military escalation.
The escalating tensions risk expanding the scope of the conflict, which could lead the entire region into a state of comprehensive chaos with undoubtedly catastrophic repercussions for regional and international security and stability, it said.
Saudi Arabia
The country condemned in the “strongest terms” the Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait, warning of “dire consequences” over the continued violation of “state sovereignty and the principles of international law.”
Qatar
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Iranian missile strikes on its territory, calling them a violation of its sovereignty and a direct threat to national security and regional stability.
The ministry said Qatar reserves the right to respond in accordance with international law and in a manner proportionate to the nature of the attack.
Kuwait
Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Iranian attack targeting its territory, describing it as a “flagrant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, airspace, international law and the United Nations Charter.”
The European Union
Developments in Iran were “greatly concerning,” leaders of the European Union said, urging all sides to exercise maximum restraint.
“We remain in close contact with our partners in the region,” European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.
“We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law,” the statement added.
The International Committee of the Red Cross
In a statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross said, “The military escalation in the Middle East is igniting a dangerous chain reaction across the region, with potentially devastating consequences for civilians.”
The United Nations
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the military escalation. “The use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security,” he said in a statement, “strongly” encouraging “all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.”
