Here's how world leaders are reacting to the US-Israel strikes on Iran
#US-Israel strikes on Iran #world leaders reactions #international response #Middle East tensions #Iran nuclear program
📌 Key Takeaways
- UN Secretary General condemned both US-Israel strikes and Iranian retaliation
- EU expressed concern while acknowledging Iranian threats
- France/Germany/UK condemned Iranian attacks without explicitly supporting or denouncing the strikes
- Russia condemned strikes as unprovoked while China called for respecting Iran's sovereignty
📖 Full Retelling
World leaders on Saturday, February 28, 2026, reacted cautiously after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, following weeks of escalating tensions and a major US military buildup in the region. The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres condemned what he described as the 'use of force' by the US and Israel, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran, stating both actions 'undermine international peace and security.' The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon in response to the strikes, with Britain chairing the session as the current council president. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the developments in Iran as 'greatly concerning,' emphasizing the critical importance of ensuring nuclear safety and preventing actions that could further escalate tensions. The EU's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, called the situation 'perilous' while noting that the Iranian regime 'has killed thousands' and its support for terror groups 'pose a serious threat to global security.' The leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement emphasizing their long-standing calls for Iran to end its nuclear program and destabilizing actions in the region, while explicitly condemning Iranian attacks on other countries. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected 'the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order.' In contrast, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed support for the US 'acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,' while Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy endorsed the strikes, citing Iran's supply of drones to Russia. Russia condemned the strikes as 'a pre-planned and unprovoked act' of aggression, while China called for respecting Iran's sovereignty and an immediate return to diplomacy.
🏷️ Themes
International Relations, Middle East Conflict, Nuclear Proliferation
📚 Related People & Topics
Nuclear program of Iran
Iran's nuclear program, one of the most scrutinized in the world, has sparked intense international concern. While Iran asserts that its nuclear ambitions are purely for civilian purposes, including energy production, the country historically pursued the secretive AMAD nuclear weapons project (stopp...
Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for Nuclear program of Iran:
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Enriched uranium
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Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
5 shared
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Donald Trump
5 shared
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Diplomacy
4 shared
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Geneva
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Original Source
Middle East Here's how world leaders are reacting to the US-Israel strikes on Iran February 28, 2026 12:31 PM ET By NPR's International Desk Protesters gather in London, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 after U.S. and Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes on Iran on Saturday morning. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) Alastair Grant/AP hide caption toggle caption Alastair Grant/AP World leaders on Saturday reacted cautiously after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, following weeks escalating tensions and a major U.S. military buildup in the region. Here's a roundup of international reaction: United Nations: Secretary General António Guterres condemned what he described as the "use of force" by the US and Israel, and the subsequent retaliation by Iran, which, he said, "undermine international peace and security." Guterres added that all member states must respect their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Middle East conflict U.S. and Israel strike Iran in operation 'Epic Fury.' Trump calls for regime overthrow The UN Security Council, meanwhile, called an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon in response to the strikes. The meeting will be chaired by Britain, which holds the monthly council presidency. European Union: The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the developments in Iran "greatly concerning." "Ensuring nuclear safety and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance," she wrote in a post on X, calling on all parties to exercise restraint and respect international law. In Brussels, the EU's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, called the situation "perilous" and said the protection of civilians was a priority. But she also said the Iranian regime "has killed thousands" and its support for terror groups "pose a serious threat to global securit...
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