The recent U.S. strike on Iran, part of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Tehran, has raised alarm about a potential escalation into a wider regional war, prompting a variety of responses from around the world.
President Donald Trump had initially indicated he would take two weeks to decide on military involvement, but the U.S. quickly intervened with an attack early Sunday.
The extent of the damage from the strikes remains uncertain, but Iran has warned of retaliation should the U.S. engage in military actions alongside Israel.
This raises concerns about whether a weakened Iran might yield or respond defiantly by targeting U.S. interests throughout the Gulf region.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the use of force by the United States.
He highlighted the growing risk of the conflict spiraling out of control, warning that it could lead to disastrous consequences for civilians and the wider region.
Guterres called on member states to focus on de-escalation, emphasizing that diplomacy is the only viable solution moving forward.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters echoed this sentiment, urging all parties to return to negotiations.
He refrained from commenting on whether New Zealand supported Trump’s military actions, calling the crisis he has encountered the most serious of his career.
Peters stressed that diplomatic approaches are likely to yield more lasting resolutions than further military engagement.
In China, government-run media questioned whether the U.S. is repeating its mistakes from the Iraq invasion when it initiated military intervention in Iran.
CGTN’s commentary described the strikes as a dangerous turning point and warned that military interventions in the Middle East have historically led to unintended, prolonged conflicts and regional instability.
The piece advocated for a diplomatic solution, encouraging dialogue over military confrontations to foster stability in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is anticipated to convene a meeting with senior ministers to assess the implications of the U.S. actions against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Japan’s major newspaper, Yomiuri, is also providing an extra edition regarding the developments in Tokyo.
In South Korea, the presidential office announced plans for an emergency meeting to examine the security and economic effects of the U.S. strikes and to determine potential responses.
Australia, which had already closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff last Friday, maintained its call for a diplomatic resolution to the situation.
An Australian government official emphasized that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs pose a serious threat to international peace and security.
Cautioning about the highly volatile security situation in the region, Australia reiterated its commitment to calling for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.
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