The United States carried out attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday, June 22, joining Israel’s bombing campaign after days of speculation over US involvement in the conflict. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,” Trump said in a televised address to the nation from the White House after the strikes. Here is a roundup of the key reactions:
Iran: ‘Everlasting consequences’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US attacks as “outrageous” and said his country has a right to defend its sovereignty. “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” he posted on social media, adding that the attacks were “lawless and criminal” behavior. “In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people,” the foreign minister said.
Iran’s atomic energy organization also called the US attacks “a barbaric act that violates international law,” adding that it “will not let the path of development of this national industry (…) be stopped.”
Israel: ‘Change history’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, saying the attacks will “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 demonstrated “America has been truly unsurpassed.” He also told Israelis that his promise to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “fulfilled.”
UN: ‘Dangerous escalation’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the strikes a “dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge.” “There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,” Guterres said in a statement.
The UN’s nuclear agency also reported that it had not detected any increase in “off-site radiation levels” after the attacks on the three nuclear sites in Iran. The agency’s chief called for an emergency meeting Monday.
UK: ‘Stability is priority’
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to “return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.” “Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,” Starmer said on X, adding that “stability in the region is a priority.”
France: ‘Avoid any escalation’
France expressed “concern” over the attacks and called on all parties to “exercise restraint” to avoid greater conflict. “France has taken note with concern of the strikes carried out last night by the United States of America against three sites of Iran’s nuclear programme,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot posted on X. He said that France had not taken part in the planning of those strikes. Paris, Barrot added, “urges all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict.”
EU: ‘Step back’
The European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and a 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.
China: ‘Strongly condemns’
China’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns” the US strikes, adding that 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 in a statement.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping said last week that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was the “top priority,” during a phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. “Armed force is not the correct way to resolve international disputes,” Xi said, quoted by Beijing’s foreign ministry.
Russia: ‘Irresponsible’
Russia said that it “strongly condemned” the United States’s bombings, calling the attacks “irresponsible” and a “gross violation of international law.” “It is already clear that a dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security,” the Russian foreign ministry added in a statement.
Turkey: ‘Catastrophic’
Turkey warned that the US strike risked escalating the Iran-Israel conflict to a global level. “The ongoing developments could cause the regional conflict to escalate to a global level. We do not want this catastrophic scenario to come to life,” the foreign ministry said, indicating Turkey was “deeply concerned about the possible consequences.”
Egypt: ‘Dangerous repercussions’
Egypt denounced the US attack, and its foreign ministry warned against “the danger of the region slipping into further chaos and tensions.” It condemned “the rapid escalation, which threatens to have dangerous repercussions for regional and international security and peace,” and called for “political solutions and diplomatic talks.”
Iraq: ‘Grave threat’
Iraq warned that the US attacks on its neighbor Iran’s nuclear facilities threaten peace and stability in the Middle East. “This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability,” said government spokesperson Basim Alawadi.
Saudi Arabia: ‘Exercise restraint’
Saudi Arabia expressed “great concern” after the US air strikes on nuclear facilities in its neighbor, the “sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran.” “The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation,” the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X.
Oman: ‘Serious violation’
Oman, which served as mediator in the nuclear talks between Iran and the US, condemned the airstrikes, saying they escalated tensions in the region. The US airstrikes threaten “to expand the scope of the conflict and constitute a serious violation of international law,” a spokesperson for Oman’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
India: ‘Immediate de-escalation’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the US strikes after a call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. “We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability,” Modi wrote on X.
Pakistan: US attacks ‘violate international law’
Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country and a longtime Washington ally, said the US attacks “violate all norms of international law.” “We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that Iran has the legitimate right to defend itself under the UN Charter.”
Pope Leo XIV: ‘Crying out for peace’
Pope Leo XIV said after the strikes that “humanity is crying out for peace,” and called for an end to all wars. “Each member of the international community has the moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war, before it becomes an irreparable chasm,” Leo said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican.
Hamas: ‘Brutal aggression’
The 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: ‘Blatant declaration of war’
Yemen’s Houthi rebel government, which is backed by Iran, condemned the US attacks 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,” they said.
