RIYADH (The Thursday Times) — Saudi Arabia expressed “great concern” on Sunday following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, issuing a firm call for restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement to avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East. In a statement shared by its Foreign Ministry on social media, the Kingdom denounced the violation of Iran’s sovereignty and warned that the region stood at a perilous crossroads. “All efforts must now focus on de-escalation and a return to dialogue,” the statement urged.
The strikes, ordered by US President Donald Trump, targeted what the White House described as “active and emerging nuclear threats” inside Iran. The attack immediately triggered a wave of global condemnation and concern, with leaders across continents warning that the already volatile region was on the verge of spiralling into chaos.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described the military action as “a direct threat to international peace and security.” In a rare and forceful statement, he said, “This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge.” Guterres warned that the situation could quickly unravel, bringing “catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.” He reaffirmed that there is no military solution, and called on UN member states to uphold their obligations under international law and return to diplomacy.
Reactions from across the globe followed in rapid succession.
In Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a stark warning that the situation could evolve into a global crisis. “The ongoing developments could cause the regional conflict to escalate to a global level,” it said, adding that the consequences of such a scenario would be catastrophic.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed that he had spoken to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to express concern. In a statement, he noted, “We discussed in detail the current situation and reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy as the way forward.”
The United Arab Emirates echoed similar sentiments, urging an immediate halt to the violence. Its foreign ministry cautioned that such actions risk dragging the region into “new levels of instability,” and stressed the urgent need to prevent further military confrontation.
Egypt, in its statement, said it was “deeply concerned” about the developments and emphasised that continued escalation could endanger peace at both regional and international levels. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called for all parties to respect state sovereignty and adhere to the principles of the UN Charter.
Pakistan issued a sharp rebuke of the US actions, calling the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities a breach of international norms. The Foreign Office stated, “We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region.” It added that Iran, as a UN member state, has the legitimate right to defend itself and that the current course of aggression is “deeply disturbing.”
Russia’s response came via Dmitry Medvedev, the former president and deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council. He accused President Trump of initiating a new war. “Trump, who came in as a peacemaker president, has started a new war for the US,” Medvedev wrote bluntly on his Telegram channel.
Qatar, home to the largest US military base in the Middle East, warned of severe consequences from the strike. The Qatari Foreign Ministry cautioned that the region could face “catastrophic consequences” and urged all sides to act with restraint.
Oman, long a quiet diplomatic mediator between Washington and Tehran, issued a rare condemnation of the United States. Its official news agency denounced the escalation and the direct targeting of Iranian nuclear infrastructure as a dangerous development.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a pointed message, noting that Lebanon had paid heavily for past regional wars and could not afford to be drawn into another. “There is no national interest in doing so, especially since the cost of these wars has always exceeded our capacity to bear them,” he said. Aoun called for “constructive and serious negotiations” to stabilise the region.
In London, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered a more cautious tone. While reiterating that Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, he urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table. “Stability in the region is a priority,” Starmer said, calling for a diplomatic solution to avoid further conflict.
Iraq’s government condemned the US strikes as a threat to regional peace. A government spokesman described the situation as “a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East,” stressing that Iraq remained opposed to the use of military force in resolving political disputes.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged both sides to step back from the brink and called for renewed negotiations. “Prevent further escalation,” she said in a statement, confirming that the EU would hold emergency talks in Brussels to address the situation.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters described the unfolding crisis as “the most serious I’ve ever dealt with.” He said diplomacy offered the only viable path forward and stressed that further military action would only prolong suffering and instability.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told national broadcaster RAI that while the US strikes had caused massive damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the hope now was for “de-escalation and a return to negotiations.”
Chinese state media questioned whether the United States was repeating its “Iraq mistake” in Iran. In an editorial by CGTN, Beijing warned that military intervention in the Middle East has historically led to “unintended consequences and prolonged conflict,” and called instead for a “measured, diplomatic approach.”
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said the priority must be to stabilise the region as quickly as possible, adding that officials were working to protect Japanese nationals across the Middle East. He noted that Japan’s energy supply remained unaffected for now but urged vigilance ahead of rising summer demand.
South Korea’s presidential office convened an emergency security meeting to assess both the geopolitical and economic impact of the conflict. Australia, which had pre-emptively closed its embassy in Tehran, continued to urge a peaceful resolution. A government spokesperson said, “We note the US President’s statement that now is the time for peace. We continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy.”
In stark contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the US decision, calling it a “bold move” that would “change history.” In a video address, he praised Trump’s leadership, saying the strike had prevented Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, thanked Trump for fulfilling the policy of “Never Again.”
Back in Washington, Republican lawmakers were quick to rally behind Trump. Senator Lindsey Graham applauded the strike, calling it a decisive move. Senator John Cornyn hailed it as “courageous and correct,” while others, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, insisted the action demonstrated that Trump “means what he says.”
But not all voices were in lockstep. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania broke from most Democrats to support the strike, citing Iran’s role in sponsoring terrorism. However, others expressed serious constitutional concerns. Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican, argued the strikes were unconstitutional without Congressional authorisation. Several Democrats, including Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Jim Himes, called for immediate legislative review, warning that war-making authority resides with Congress, not the president.
As the reverberations of the airstrikes echo across capitals, the world waits — not just for Iran’s response, but for clarity on whether diplomacy can still pull the region back from the edge.
