The United States struck three nuclear sites in Iran, joining Israel’s bombing campaign after days of speculation over American involvement.

“Iran’s key uranium enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,” President Donald Trump said following the strikes.

Summary of Key Reactions:

Iran: “Everlasting consequences”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US strikes as “outrageous,” asserting his country’s right to defend its sovereignty.
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” he wrote on social media, describing the attacks as “lawless and criminal.”
Later, Araghchi said the US and Israel had crossed “a very big red line” and announced he would travel to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Israel: “Change history”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, saying the strikes would “help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace.”
“Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history,” Netanyahu said in a video message, adding that the attacks proved “America has been truly unsurpassed.”
He assured Israelis that his promise to destroy Iran’s nuclear sites had been “fulfilled.”

EU: “Return to negotiations”
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and a return to the negotiating table.
“I urge all sides to step back, return to negotiations, and prevent further escalation,” Kallas wrote on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation on Monday.

Russia: “Irresponsible strikes”
Russia “strongly condemned” the bombings, labeling them “irresponsible” and a “gross violation of international law.”
“A dangerous escalation has begun, threatening to further undermine regional and global security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

UN: “Dangerous escalation”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the strikes “a dangerous escalation in a region already on edge.”
“There is no military solution. The only way forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,” Guterres said in a statement.

United Kingdom:
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran to “return to the negotiating table and find a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.”
“Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and the US has acted to neutralize that threat,” Starmer said on X, adding that “stability in the region is a priority.”

France: “Exercise restraint”
French President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting of the country’s defense council on Sunday and spoke with leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman.
France urged “all parties to exercise restraint to avoid escalation that could spread the conflict,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot posted on X.

China: “Ceasefire call”
China’s Foreign Ministry “strongly condemned” the US strikes, warning they “escalate tensions in the Middle East.”
“China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible,” the ministry said.

Pope Leo XIV: “Cry for peace”
Pope Leo XIV said after the strikes that “humanity is crying out for peace” and called for an end to all wars.
“Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm,” he said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican.

Saudi Arabia: “Exercise restraint”
Saudi Arabia expressed “great concern” over the strikes against its neighbor, the “brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“The Kingdom stresses the need for all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation,” the Foreign Ministry posted on X.

Pakistan: “Violation of international law”
Pakistan, the only nuclear-armed Muslim country and a longtime US ally, said the strikes “violate all norms of international law.”
“We are gravely concerned about possible further escalation in the region,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said, adding that Iran has “the right to self-defense under the UN Charter.”

Hamas: “Brutal aggression”
Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the “blatant US aggression against the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“This brutal aggression is a dangerous escalation,” Hamas said, calling the attack “a flagrant violation of international law and a direct threat to international peace and security.”

Houthis: “Declaration of war”
Yemen’s Houthi rebel government, backed by Iran, condemned the US strikes and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people.
“The Trump administration’s reckless aggression… is a blatant declaration of war against the brotherly Iranian people. We declare our full support for the brotherly Iranian people,” the statement said. | BGNES, AFP