Summary

A wave of international condemnation swept across capitals on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched what they described as “major combat operations” against Iran, triggering a series of Iranian counterattacks against Israeli and American targets across the Middle East. The sharp escalation prompted emergency diplomacy, airspace closures, and urgent warnings of a wider regional war. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned both the initial strikes and Tehran’s retaliation, saying the exchanges “undermine international peace and security.” He urged all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table. The UN Security Council convened an emergency session on Saturday afternoon, though no binding resolution emerged from the meeting. Russia’s Foreign Ministry was among the sharpest critics, denouncing the US and Israeli strikes as a “premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression” against a sovereign UN member state and a violation of international law. The European Union issued a joint statement expressing concern over “the developments in Iran” and calling on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians. France, Germany, and Britain jointly confirmed they played no role in the strikes and called for a resumption of diplomatic negotiations. Spain went further, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rejecting the military action outright, warning it contributes to “a more uncertain and hostile international order.” Norway questioned the legal basis of what Israel termed a pre-emptive strike, stressing that such a justification requires proof of an immediately imminent threat. In the Middle East, regional governments expressed alarm. Oman, which had recently mediated US-Iran talks, said it was dismayed that negotiations had been derailed and called for an immediate halt to military operations. Egypt warned that escalating tensions risk spiraling into a broader conflict with severe consequences for regional and international stability. The Arab League appealed to all parties to pursue de-escalation and return to dialogue. Beyond the immediate region, Brazil, Pakistan, and the African Union added their voices to calls for restraint. African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that further escalation threatens to worsen global instability. Senegal and Gambia jointly called for an immediate ceasefire. Pakistan said it “regrets the breakdown of talks,” urging all sides to return to a peaceful and negotiated solution. Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), called on all countries involved to respect the rules of war and find the political will to prevent further casualties and destruction. Casualties were reported across multiple sites, and airspace closures extended through parts of the region as governments assessed the fallout from one of the most serious military confrontations involving Iran, Israel, and the United States in recent history.