‘Avoid escalation’: World reacts to Israel strike on Iran

PARIS: World leaders urged restraint on Friday after Israel pounded Iran, striking 100 targets including nuclear and military sites, and killing senior figures.

‘Cannot have nuclear bomb’: United States “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end,” US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform, adding that Israel has a lot of weapons thanks to the United States and “they know how to use it”.

Earlier in the day, Trump told Fox News that “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table.”

‘Maximum restraint’: UN UN chief Antonio Guterres asked “both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” according to a spokesperson.

Guterres was “particularly concerned” by Israel´s strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

‘Unacceptable’ and ‘unprovoked’: Russia “Russia is concerned and condemns the sharp escalation of tensions,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agencies, calling the strikes “unacceptable” and “unprovoked”, while the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv urged Russians in Israel to leave the country.

‘Deeply worried’: China

“The Chinese side... is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, calling “on relevant parties to take actions that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions”.

‘Diplomacy best path forward’: EU “The situation in the Middle East is dangerous. I urge all parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. Diplomacy remains the best path forward, and I stand ready to support any diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

‘Right to defend itself’: France “France reaffirms Israel´s right to defend itself and ensure its security,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in English on X, calling “on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to de-escalate” and “avoid jeopardising the stability of the entire region”.

Avoid ‘further escalation’: Germany Germany, which for years expressed concerns about Iran´s “advanced nuclear weapons programme”, said it was “ready to use all diplomatic means at our disposal to influence the parties to the conflict. The goal must remain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons”.

‘Dangerous escalation’: Hamas “This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the region,” said the Iran-backed, Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.

Threaten to ‘ignite the region’: Hezbollah Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, long seen as the Iran-led axis´s most powerful group, said of Israel: “This enemy adheres to no logic or laws and knows only the language of killing, fire, and destruction,” adding that the “brutal” strike threatened to “ignite the region”.

‘Reduce tensions urgently’: UK British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region.”