10:43, april 15
World leaders express fear the conflict could lead to further escalation in the region, calling for all sides to exercise restraint.
According to Al-Jazeera, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa that his country “unequivocally condemns Iran’s airborne attacks”, adding: “We stand with Israel.
EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a post on X that “the EU strongly condemns the unacceptable Iranian attack against Israel.” “This is an unprecedented escalation and a grave threat to regional security.”
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Iran’s actions as “reckless”. “Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard,” he said in a statement posted on X. “The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq,” he added.
US President Joe Biden condemned the Iranian attacks and pledged a coordinated G7 diplomatic response. He said the United States had helped Israel take down “nearly all” of the attacking drones and missiles. Biden said in a statement released by the White House that he reiterated the “ironclad” US support for Israel’s security in a call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
India reportedly said it was “seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, which threatens the peace and security in the region”. “We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy,” the Ministry of External Affairs of India said in a statement.
“Today’s developments demonstrate the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “These also underline the ‘grave’ implications in cases where the UN Security Council is unable to fulfil its responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security.”
Turkiye does not want further escalation of tension in the region after Iran’s drone and missile attack against Israel, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan told his Iranian counterpart in a phone call on Sunday, Turkish diplomatic sources told Reuters.
China is reportedly deeply concerned about escalation after Iran’s attacks, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said in remarks published on its website.
“China calls on relevant parties to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of tensions,” the spokesperson said in response to a question about Iran’s strikes.
This round of tensions is a “spillover from the Gaza conflict”, and quelling that conflict is “a top priority”, the spokesperson added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt expressed its “deep concern” at the escalation of hostilities and called for “maximum restraint”. Its statement also warned of the “risk of the regional expansion of the conflict”, and added that Egypt would be “in direct contact with all parties to the conflict to try and contain the situation”.
The Jordan Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said any escalation in the region would lead to “dangerous paths” and said that there was a need to reduce escalation by all parties. In remarks to the cabinet, Khasawneh said the country’s armed forces would confront any attempt by any party that sought to endanger the kingdom’s security.
Qatar called on all concerned parties to stop the escalation and exercise utmost restraint. In a statement, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “its deep concern about the developments in the region”.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement voicing its concern at the “military escalation” and calling on “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and spare the region and its peoples from the dangers of war”. It went on to urge the UN Security Council “to assume its responsibility towards maintaining international peace and security”.
Lebanese group Hezbollah praised Iran’s attack on Israel, describing it as a “brave” decision. Iran-backed Hezbollah added in a statement that Iran had exercised its legal rights despite “threats, intimidation and pressure”.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote in a statement on Saturday that he strongly condemns “the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran this evening.” “I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East,” he added.
