World leaders issued swift and varied responses after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States had carried out strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, including the Fordo facility. Trump characterized the strikes as a “very successful attack,” saying Iran must now end the conflict.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as a violation of international law and said Iran “reserves all options” in response. He warned of “everlasting consequences” and argued the attacks targeted peaceful nuclear installations. Israel praised the action, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the decision would “change history” and reflected the principle of “peace through strength.”
In contrast, China said the strikes violated the UN Charter and urged all parties, particularly Israel, to halt further escalation. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern, warning the conflict could spiral out of control with catastrophic consequences. He called diplomacy “the only path forward.” European Union officials similarly urged restraint and a return to negotiations, while emphasizing the need to prevent nuclear proliferation.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia expressed concern over rising instability, while groups aligned with Iran — including Yemen’s Houthis and Lebanon’s Hezbollah — condemned the U.S. action as aggression. Leaders from the U.K., Japan, Venezuela, and Cuba also called for de-escalation, though their framing differed. Countries across the globe stressed the need to prevent a regional war and pursue diplomatic solutions, as governments assessed the broader implications of the strike.
