Global Leaders Respond Following Trump’s Statement on U.S. Airstrikes at Three Iranian Nuclear Facilities, Including Fordo

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World leaders reacted to President Donald Trump’s announcement Saturday that the U.S. had carried out a “very successful attack” on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordo. “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR,” Trump posted on Truth Social. Here’s how the world reacted after the attack.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on X that his nation “reserves all options” in response to the attack. “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” Araghchi said. “Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. In accordance with the UN Charter, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people.”

Araghchi emphasized that the attacks on “Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations” by the U.S. were “a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the NPT.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that “Trump’s bold decision will change history.” He stated, “President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, Donald Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.”

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the U.S. strikes on Iran represent a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region, posing a serious threat to global peace and security. “There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly escalate – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” Guterres said. “At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”

The European Union’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas urged “all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table, and prevent further escalation,” while stressing that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. EU foreign ministers will discuss developments in Iran on Monday, she stated.

Within the Middle East, the ministry of foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia, a regional ally of the U.S. that only resumed relations with Iran in March 2023 after a seven-year diplomatic rift, said it is following developments in “sisterly” Iran with “great concern.” Yemen’s Houthi militant group, historically backed by Tehran, denounced the U.S.’ “blatant aggression” against Iran in a statement carried by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba).

The presidency of Lebanon, whose influential Hezbollah group also receives Iranian support and has been trading fire with Israel, cautioned that “the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities raises fears of an escalation of tensions that could threaten security and stability in multiple regions and countries” and urged restraint.

In Europe, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the situation in the Middle East “remains volatile, and stability in the region is a priority,” calling on Tehran to resume negotiations and seek a diplomatic solution. The U.K., France, and Germany have been making efforts to de-escalate tensions through rapprochement with Tehran in recent days.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba noted that it is “paramount to calm the situation down soon.” He stated that “Iran’s nuclear development must be blocked,” while stopping short of endorsing the U.S. action, indicating that his government will fully discuss the developments.

Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvan Gil condemned the attacks in a message on Telegram, stating: “Venezuela condemns U.S. military aggression against Iran and demands an immediate cessation of hostilities. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military against nuclear facilities in Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes.”

Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel also condemned the attacks, stating: “We strongly condemn the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, which constitutes a dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences.”

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for diplomatic dialogue, stating: “The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict. In keeping with our constitutional principles of foreign policy and our pacifist conviction, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region. The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region is the highest priority.”

A spokesperson for the Australian government also advocated for de-escalation, saying: “We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program poses a threat to international peace and security. We note the U.S. President’s statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.”

Reactions across the globe are slowly coming in as leaders assess the impact of the attack. South Korea’s National Security Council convened on Sunday, urging “relevant ministries to minimize the impact of the recent series of developments in the Middle East,” according to a presidential spokesperson in remarks carried by South Korean news agency Yonhap.