US strikes on Iran: How the world reacted

Iran's allies and several regional states strongly condemned the United States' decision to attack the Islamic Republic, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Washington had "crossed a very big red line" and that Tehran had the right to defend itself.

In a televised address late on Saturday, US President Donald Trump called the attacks on the Fordow, Natanz and the Isfahan nuclear sites a "spectacular military success," arguing they were necessary to disable the Islamic Republic's nuclear enrichment capability.

"I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," Trump said, adding that Tehran needed to "make peace" as he threatened more intense attacks if it did not.

The strikes sparked international concern, with several countries condemning the attacks and urging all sides to halt further escalation.

Here's a round up of how countries, as well as international bodies, responded to the developments.

Russia

Russia's foreign ministry said it strongly condemned the US attacks, and accused Washington of flagrantly violating international law.

"The irresponsible decision to subject the territory of a sovereign state to missile and bomb attacks, whatever the arguments it may be presented with, flagrantly violates international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council," the ministry said in its statement.

"We call for an end to aggression and for increased efforts to create conditions for returning the situation to a political and diplomatic track."

Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy head of President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council, said several countries were prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear weapons.

He didn't specify which countries, but said the US attacks caused minimal damage and would not stop Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons.

"The enrichment of nuclear material - and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons - will continue," Medvedev said, adding that "a number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads."

China

China condemned US calling them a serious violation of international law that further inflamed tensions in the Middle East.

"China is willing to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and contribute to the work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East," the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Earlier, a online piece by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of the state broadcaster, asked whether the US is "repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran."

"History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilization," it said, citing the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.

United Nations

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "gravely alarmed” by the use of force by the United States.

"There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control - with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world," he said in a statement on the social media platform X. "I call on Member States to de-escalate."

"There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy."

Iraq

The Iraqi government condemned the US strikes , saying the military escalation created a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East.

“The continuation of such attacks risks dangerous escalation with consequences that extend beyond the borders of any single state, threatening the security of the entire region and the world," government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement.

Pakistan

Pakistan called the US strikes a "deeply disturbing" escalation, just days after it nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic intervention with the India-Pakistan crisis.

"These attacks violate all norms of international law," the government said in a statement.

"Iran has the legitimate right to defend itself under the UN Charter."

Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the US bombing could lead to a regional conflict that no country could bear and called for negotiations.

"Lebanon, its leadership, parties, and people, are aware today, more than ever before, that it has paid a heavy price for the wars that erupted on its land and in the region," Aoun said in a statement on X.

"It is unwilling to pay more."

Qatar

Qatar voiced concern over the US strikes, warning of dangerous regional consequences.

In a statement, the Qatari foreign ministry said it "regrets the deterioration of the situation" following the bombing and is "following with great concern the developments targeting the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran".

The ministry warned that the current tensions could lead to "catastrophic repercussions" both regionally and internationally.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia expressed its "great concern" following the attacks, according to a statement by the foreign ministry on X.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the developments in the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran, represented by the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States of America," the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X.

The kingdom "expresses the need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate and avoid escalation", calling on the international community to boost efforts in such "highly sensitive circumstances" to reach a political solution to end the crisis.

Oman

Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran, has strongly condemned the US strikes.

The Gulf state "expresses deep concern, denunciation and condemnation of the escalation resulting from the direct air strikes launched by the United States on sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran," the official Oman News Agency said.

European Union

The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and pressed Iran to return to negotiations.

"I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation," Kallas wrote on X, adding Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation on Monday.

UK

British Prime Minister dubbed Iran's nuclear programme a "grave threat to international security" while indirectly endorsing Trump's actions, saying the attack had "alleviate[d]" the "threat" from Iran's nuclear programme.

"Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," said Starmer.

"The situation in the Middle East is volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis."

Venezuela

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil strongly condemned the US air strikes, calling them a dangerous act of aggression.

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan complexes," Gil said in a Telegram post.

He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and warned of the grave consequences of further escalation.

Cuba

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel strongly condemned the US bombing, saying it constituted a "dangerous escalation" and a serious violation of the UN Charter.

He added that it "plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences".