Iran Retaliates After US-Israel Attack, World Leaders Express Concern

Kathmandu. After the United States and Israel launched “major combat operations” against Iran on Saturday, Iran carried out retaliatory attacks on Israel and American targets across the region. Casualties have been reported in these attacks, and airspace has been closed in various parts of the Middle East.

Following the sharp escalation, immediate reactions have come from the international community, with growing fears of a wider regional conflict. World leaders have urged an immediate return to the diplomatic path.

The Russian Foreign Ministry described the US and Israeli airstrikes as a “premeditated and unprovoked armed aggression” against a sovereign UN member state, stating it violates international law. Russia has called for an immediate return to political and diplomatic efforts to resolve regional tensions.

European Union leaders issued a joint statement expressing concern over “the developments in Iran” and reaffirmed their commitment to “safeguarding regional security and stability.” The statement said, “We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law.”

France, Germany and Britain jointly clarified that they did not participate in the strikes against Iran and called for the resumption of negotiations. Several European governments have questioned the justification for Israel’s attack.

Norway expressed doubt about the legitimacy of Israel’s so-called “pre-emptive strike,” emphasizing that it requires an “immediately imminent threat.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that Spain rejects the unilateral military action taken by the United States and Israel, warning that it represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order.

Governments across the Middle East have expressed concern that this confrontation could take the form of a wider regional war. Oman, which recently mediated US-Iran talks, expressed dismay that the negotiation process had been undermined and urged an immediate halt to military operations.

Egypt, through a Foreign Ministry statement, warned that escalating tensions could lead to serious consequences for regional and international security and stability. The Arab League appealed to all international parties “to work towards de-escalation as soon as possible, to spare the region the scourge of instability and violence, and to return to dialogue.”

The Brazilian government urged all parties to respect international law, exercise maximum restraint to prevent hostilities from escalating, protect civilians, and safeguard civilian infrastructure. Pakistan expressed “regret over the breakdown of the negotiation process and the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East,” emphasizing the need to “uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter” and calling on “all parties to resume diplomacy and find a peaceful and negotiated solution to the crisis.”

African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Saturday expressed “deep concern” over the military escalation in the Middle East, calling for restraint, urgent de-escalation, and sustained dialogue. He warned that further escalation threatens to worsen global instability. Senegal and Gambia urged an immediate ceasefire and emphasized the need to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with international law.

International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric urged all countries to respect the rules of war and to demonstrate political will to prevent “further death and destruction.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the military escalation in the Middle East, stating that the use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the subsequent retaliatory attacks by Iran across the region, undermine international peace and security. “I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table,” he said.

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was held on Saturday afternoon. However, no immediate resolution or binding action has been reported.