How China, UN, others reacted to US airstrikes on Iran: ‘Catastrophic penalties’

The strikes, which marked Washington’s first direct navy involvement in Israel’s ongoing marketing campaign in opposition to Tehran, got here simply days after US President Donald Trump mentioned he would take as much as two weeks to determine if US is to strike Iran or not.

In response to Trump’s declare of the operation being a “spectacular success”, Iran mentioned that no “irreversible” injury has been performed to its nuclear amenities in – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Comply with Iran Israel struggle stay updates.

Right here’s how main international actors responded to the event:

Iran

Iran strongly condemned the US airstrikes, with international minister Abbas Araghchi calling the assaults “outrageous” and warning of far-reaching fallout. “The occasions this morning are outrageous and could have eternal penalties,” Araghchi posted on X, describing the strikes as “lawless and felony” actions.

He asserted that Iran has the fitting to reply beneath worldwide regulation.

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“In accordance with the UN Constitution and its provisions permitting a reliable response in self-defense, Iran reserves all choices to defend its sovereignty, curiosity, and other people,” he mentioned.

Individually, Iran’s atomic power group described the US operation as “a barbaric act that violates worldwide regulation.”

“The Atomic Vitality Group of Iran assures the good nation of Iran… it is not going to let the trail of improvement of this nationwide business (nuclear), which is the results of the blood of nuclear martyrs, be stopped,” it mentioned in an announcement carried by state media.

China

China condemned the US airstrikes by means of state media, warning Washington could also be repeating previous strategic errors. A flash commentary by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of China’s state broadcaster, described the US motion as “a harmful turning level.”

“Historical past has repeatedly proven that navy interventions within the Center East typically produce unintended penalties, together with extended conflicts and regional destabilization,” the commentary acknowledged, referring to the 2003 Iraq struggle.

It mentioned a measured, diplomatic method that prioritizes dialogue over navy confrontation provides the very best hope for stability within the Center East.

United Nations

UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres mentioned he was “gravely alarmed” by way of power by the USA and warned of disastrous penalties if the scenario deteriorates additional.

“There’s a rising threat that this battle might quickly get uncontrolled – with catastrophic penalties for civilians, the area, and the world,” Guterres mentioned in an announcement posted on X.

“There isn’t any navy resolution. The one path ahead is diplomacy,” he added, calling on UN member states to work towards de-escalation.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Trump’s determination, saying the strikes would reshape the way forward for the Center East.

“Your daring determination to focus on Iran’s nuclear amenities with the superior and righteous would possibly of the USA will change historical past,” Netanyahu mentioned in a video message.

He mentioned the US had demonstrated unparalleled energy and credited the assaults with fulfilling a long-standing Israeli pledge.

“America has been really unsurpassed,” Netanyahu added, telling Israelis that his dedication to remove Iran’s nuclear capabilities had now been “fulfilled.”

Hamas

Palestinian group Hamas additionally reacted sharply, calling the US airstrikes a “blatant US aggression in opposition to the territory and sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“This brutal aggression is a harmful escalation,” the group mentioned in an announcement. It denounced the strikes as “a flagrant violation of worldwide regulation, and a direct menace to worldwide peace and safety.”

US Democrats

Since information of the assault broke, US Democrats have largely condemned President Trump’s motion as an “unconstitutional” transfer.

The highest home democrat, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, criticised the President’s transfer as unauthorized and doubtlessly reckless.

“President Trump misled the nation about his intentions, failed to hunt congressional authorization for using navy power and dangers American entanglement in a doubtlessly disastrous struggle within the Center East,” Jeffries mentioned. He held the President personally accountable for the fallout.

“Donald Trump shoulders full and whole accountability for any adversarial penalties that movement from his unilateral navy motion,” he mentioned.

New Zealand

New Zealand international minister Winston Peters urged calm and a return to negotiations, declining to take a place on Trump’s transfer.

He informed reporters Sunday that the US strikes have been too latest to evaluate. “The disaster is essentially the most critical I’ve ever handled,” he mentioned, including that it was important that “essential additional escalation is averted.”

“Diplomacy will ship a extra enduring decision than additional navy motion,” Peters confused.

Japan

In Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was anticipated to convene a high-level assembly with cupboard ministers Sunday afternoon to evaluate the US strikes’ potential fallout, in response to NHK.

Japan’s largest each day, Yomiuri, printed and distributed an additional version in Tokyo protecting the US assault.

South Korea

South Korea’s presidential workplace introduced it could maintain an emergency assembly to guage the safety and financial implications of the US motion and to debate doable nationwide responses.

Australia

Australia reaffirmed its name for diplomatic options after evacuating workers and shutting its embassy in Tehran two days prior.

“We now have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme has been a menace to worldwide peace and safety,” an Australian authorities official mentioned in a written assertion.

“We be aware the US President’s assertion that now’s the time for peace.”

“The safety scenario within the area is extremely unstable. We proceed to name for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy,” the assertion added.

As worldwide stress builds for a diplomatic decision, fears stay that the US strikes might have opened a brand new chapter within the Center East disaster, with unpredictable and far-reaching penalties.

(With AP, AFP inputs)