World leaders urge ‘restraint’ as US-Israel strikes on Iran draw concern

Warnings against escalation and accusations of international law violations follow joint US-Israel strikes on Iran

World leaders responded with a mix of caution and criticism Saturday after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran as governments across Europe and beyond urged de-escalation and raised concerns over the legality of the operation and its potential to trigger a wider conflict.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen called for “maximum restraint” after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, sparking retaliatory attacks, adding that ensuring nuclear safety was “critical.”

“Ensuring nuclear safety and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance,” von der Leyen, the European Commission President, said, describing the developments in Iran as “concerning.”

“We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law,” she added in a joint statement with European Council President Antonio Costa.

The major wave of strikes carried out Saturday morning targeted Iranian regime sites and military facilities, according to an Israeli official, who added that Israel was preparing for several days of conflict with Iran.

Responding to the attack, the European Union’s top diplomat called the conflict in the Middle East “perilous” and said she was working with Israeli and Arab officials to pursue a negotiated peace.

“Iran’s regime has killed thousands. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, along with support for terror groups, pose a serious threat to global security,” said Kaja Kallas, foreign policy chief of the 27-nation bloc, in a post on social media.

“The EU is also coordinating closely with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths.”

She said the EU was evacuating some staff in the region while keeping in place a maritime mission in the Red Sea. The EU recently put fresh sanctions on Iran and its leading figures, which prompted retaliatory sanctions by Tehran.

The German government said it was monitoring the situation in Iran, Israel, and the wider Middle East region after being informed about the Israeli strikes on Saturday morning. The German government’s crisis management team is scheduled to meet at noon to discuss the situation in Iran.

Norway’s foreign minister, meanwhile, argued that Israel’s strikes on Iran broke international law, calling for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

“The attack is described by Israel as a preemptive strike, but it is not in accordance with international law. A preemptive attack would require the existence of an imminent threat,” Espen Barth Eide said in an email sent to AFP by his office. “We call on all parties to show restraint and not to give up on the possibilities of finding diplomatic solutions to the conflict.”

Russia also condemned US and Israeli strikes on Iran as a “dangerous adventure” that could spark “catastrophe” in the region.

“Washington and Tel Aviv have once again embarked on a dangerous adventure that is rapidly bringing the region to the brink of a humanitarian, economic, and – this cannot be ruled out – radiological catastrophe,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The aggressors’ intentions are clear and openly declared: to destroy the constitutional order and overthrow the government of a state they find undesirable, which has refused to submit to the diktat of force and hegemonism.”

Saturday’s strikes follow weeks of escalating tensions between the US and Iran, including three rounds of indirect nuclear talks that failed to produce a deal, a massive American military buildup in the region, and US President Donald Trump’s warning during his State of the Union address that Iran was working to rebuild the nuclear program the US “obliterated” in strikes last June.