World leaders offered mixed reactions on Sunday after the United States launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The strikes, which took place during the early hours of Sunday Iran time, triggered swift responses ranging from praise to sharp condemnation.
In the United States, President Donald Trump called the strikes a “spectacular military success,” emphasizing their strategic aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered strong praise for the U.S. president, saying in a recorded statement, “Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history… History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed deep concern over the escalation.
In a statement, he said, “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security… There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters also urged restraint and diplomacy, stating, “We acknowledge developments in the last 24 hours, including President Trump’s announcement of US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical further escalation is avoided… Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action.”
A spokesperson for the Australian government echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the volatility in the region, “We have been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the US 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.”
In Mexico, the foreign ministry posted a message on X (formerly Twitter), “The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace between the parties involved in the Middle East conflict… The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region is the highest priority.”
Meanwhile, countries in Latin America issued more forceful condemnations. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, writing on Telegram, stated, “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, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan complexes.”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, on X, also condemned the U.S. action, “We strongly condemn the US 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.”
The strikes have heightened tensions across the Middle East, with several airlines rerouting to avoid the region’s airspace. Market analysts anticipate volatility in global oil prices and increased investor anxiety.
