U.S. strikes on Iran nuclear amenities see Hamas and the Houthis vow retaliation, as world leaders react

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The U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear websites has fueled fears that Israel’s struggle with Tehran might escalate right into a wider regional battle, and different international locations reacted Sunday with requires diplomacy and phrases of warning. President Trump had stated Thursday that he would resolve inside two weeks whether or not to get entangled. Ultimately, it took simply days, and Washington inserted itself into Israel’s marketing campaign with its early native time Sunday assault­­­.

It remained unclear early on how a lot harm had been inflicted, however Mr. Trump lauded the “huge precision strikes on the three key nuclear assemblies within the Iranian regime, Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan,” as a “spectacular navy success.”

Iran had pledged to retaliate if the U.S. joined the Israeli assault, and President Trump reiterated his stern warning to the Islamic Republic on Saturday night time in opposition to focusing on any U.S. property within the area.

President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are seen within the White Home Scenario Room, June 21, 2025, amid strikes on Iran.

White Home/Handout


Some have questioned whether or not a weakened Iran would capitulate or stay defiant and start placing with allies at U.S. targets scattered throughout the Gulf area. There are roughly 40,000 American troops deployed within the Center East, lots of them based mostly inside simple placing distance of Iran’s missiles, although its stockpile of such weapons has been depleted by per week of Israeli assaults.

Beneath is a have a look at reactions from varied governments and different officers world wide.

Israeli leaders laud U.S. strikes on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke following the strikes, the officers stated. And in a video handle, Netanyahu praised the president for conducting the strikes. 

“President Trump and I typically say peace by way of power. First comes power, then comes peace,” he stated. “And tonight President Trump and the USA acted with a whole lot of power.” 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in a publish on social media, referred to as the U.S. strikes “a second when the ideas of liberty, duty, and safety have triumphed. A decisive second between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope.”

He thanked the U.S. and President Trump particularly, saying: “This courageous step serves the safety and security of your entire free world. I hope it is going to result in a greater future for the Center East — and assist advance the pressing launch of our hostages held in captivity in Gaza.”

Iran’s navy vows “regrettable responses” to U.S. strikes

Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that “in accordance with” the United Nations Constitution “and its provisions Iran reserves all choices to defend its sovereignty, curiosity, and folks.”

Araghchi stated the U.S. had “dedicated a grave violation of the UN Constitution” with its assault on Iran, and in subsequent statements posted on social media, he accused the Trump administration of getting “determined to explode” diplomatic efforts.

“Final week, we have been in negotiations with the US when Israel determined to explode that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US determined to explode that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw? To Britain and the EU Excessive Rep, it’s Iran which should ‘return’ to the desk. However how can Iran return to one thing it by no means left, not to mention blew up?”

In an announcement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated Sunday that with its strikes, the U.S. had “virtually positioned itself on the forefront of aggression by immediately attacking peaceable amenities.”

It alluded to plans to assault U.S. property within the Center East, saying “the quantity, dispersion, and dimension of U.S. navy bases within the area usually are not a power, however have doubled their vulnerability.”

The IRGC stated its assaults on Israel “will proceed exactly, purposefully and fiercely,” and that the U.S. choice to affix Israel’s strikes would see it “use choices past the understanding and illusory calculations of the aggressor,” promising unspecified “regrettable responses.”

Talking to reporters later Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey, Araghchi stated he would journey on Sunday to Moscow to satisfy with Russian President Vladimir Putin for “critical consultations,” citing Iran and Russia’s “strategic partnership.”

Russian state media say Kremlin condemns U.S. strikes

In statements relayed by Russian state-run information companies, the Kremlin strongly condemned the U.S. assaults on Iran on Sunday, calling Mr. Trump’s choice to hold them out “irresponsible,” and a violation of worldwide legislation that will considerably improve the dangers of a broader struggle within the Center East. 

U.N. chief says he is “gravely alarmed,” pushes for diplomacy

U.N. Secretary Common Antonio Guterres stated he was “gravely alarmed” by means of drive by the USA.

“There’s a rising threat that this battle might quickly get uncontrolled — with catastrophic penalties for civilians, the area, and the world,” he stated in an announcement posted on social media. “I name on Member States to de-escalate.”

“There isn’t any navy resolution. The one path ahead is diplomacy.”

Iran’s allies Hamas, Houthis condemn “American aggression,” vow to affix retaliation

Each the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas have condemned the U.S. strikes. The Houthis vowed to assist Iran in its battle in opposition to “the Zionist and American aggression.”

In an announcement on Sunday, the Houthi political bureau referred to as on Muslim nations to affix “the Jihad and resistance choice as one entrance in opposition to the Zionist-American conceitedness.”

Hamas and the Houthis are a part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” the gathering of pro-Iranian proxies stretching from Yemen to Lebanon that for years gave Iran appreciable energy throughout the area.

Hamas, lengthy designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Israel and the European Union, has dominated the Gaza Strip for nearly 20 years. It has been underneath blistering assault by Israeli forces because it launched its unprecedented Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault on Israel, sparking the continuing struggle within the Palestinian territory.

Just about all of Hamas’ senior leaders have been killed, and it stays unclear how a lot capability the group nonetheless has to mount main assaults on Israel.

The Houthis, too, have seen their missile and different navy property in Yemen pounded by Israeli warplanes for months, together with U.S. and British strikes geared toward lowering the Houthi menace to transport within the area.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses “deep concern,” requires de-escalation

In an announcement posted on X, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s International Ministry expressed “deep issues” over the focusing on of Iranian nuclear amenities by the U.S. 

“The Kingdom reaffirms the issues of its assertion issued on June 13, 2025, wherein it condemned and denounced the violation of sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the assertion stated. “The Kingdom underscores the necessity to exert all potential efforts to train restraint, de-escalate tensions, and keep away from additional escalation.

“The Kingdom additionally calls on the worldwide group to accentuate its efforts throughout this extremely delicate interval to succeed in a political resolution that will deliver an finish to the disaster and open new chapter for reaching safety and stability within the area.”

Lebanon’s chief says nation should keep away from being drawn in

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that Lebanon must steer clear of any potential regional spillover from the battle.

“It’s more and more vital for us to stick strictly to the supreme nationwide curiosity, which is the necessity to keep away from Lebanon being … drawn into the continuing regional confrontation in any means,” Salam stated in a publish on X.

Lebanon, which sits simply north of Israel, is the long-time house of the Iranian-backed, Hamas-allied Hezbollah group. Lengthy designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Hezbollah has additionally engaged in warfare with Israel because the Hamas-orchestrated Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault.

Hezbollah has for a few years been thought of considered one of Iran’s best-armed and most potent proxy forces within the area, however a lot of its management has been killed and its preventing capability decreased by successive Israeli strikes and months of cross-border floor operations that noticed Israeli forces push deep into southern Lebanon.

It stays unclear whether or not Hezbollah will take part any Iranian retaliatory strikes in opposition to Israel or U.S. installations within the area, or what capability it retains to take action.

China’s state-run media say U.S. might repeat “Iraq mistake”

A flash commentary from China’s government-run media requested whether or not the U.S. is “repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran.”

The net piece by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of the state broadcaster, stated the U.S. strikes mark a harmful turning level.

“Historical past has repeatedly proven that navy interventions within the Center East typically produce unintended penalties, together with extended conflicts and regional destabilization,” it stated, citing the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.

It stated a measured, diplomatic strategy that prioritizes dialogue over navy confrontation provides the very best hope for stability within the Center East.

U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls on Iran to barter

“Iran’s nuclear program is a grave menace to worldwide safety. Iran can by no means be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the U.S. has taken motion to alleviate that menace,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Sunday on an announcement posted on social media. 

“The scenario within the Center East stays unstable and stability within the area is a precedence,” he added. “We name on Iran to return to the negotiating desk and attain a diplomatic resolution to finish this disaster.”

EU urges dialogue, with bloc’s international ministers set to satisfy

“Iran should not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, as it could be a menace to worldwide safety. I urge all sides to step again, return to the negotiating desk and forestall additional escalation,” European Union international coverage chief Kaja Kallas stated in a tweet.

She added that International Ministers from the EU’s 27 member states would meet on Monday, “to debate the scenario.”

New Zealand’s chief says it is “vital additional escalation is averted”

New Zealand International Minister Winston Peters urged “all events to return to talks.”

He would not inform reporters Sunday whether or not New Zealand supported President Trump’s actions, saying that they had solely simply occurred.

The three-time international minister stated the disaster is “essentially the most critical I’ve ever handled” and that it was “vital additional escalation is averted.”

“Diplomacy will ship a extra enduring decision than additional navy motion,” he stated.

Australia appeals for “dialogue and diplomacy”

Australia, which shuttered its embassy in Tehran and evacuated workers Friday, pushed for a diplomatic finish to the battle.

“We have now been clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a menace to worldwide peace and safety,” a authorities official stated in a written assertion. “We notice the U.S. President’s assertion that now could be the time for peace.”

“The safety scenario within the area is extremely unstable. We proceed to name for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.”

France international minister urges restraint

French International Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, in a message on social media on Sunday, referred to as for restraint “in an effort to keep away from any escalation that would result in an extension of the battle.”

Barrot, who stated his nation was not concerned within the assault, additionally reiterated France’s opposition to Iran having access to nuclear weapons.

“France has repeatedly expressed its agency opposition to Iran having access to nuclear weapons,” he stated in an announcement. “France is satisfied {that a} lasting resolution to this subject requires a negotiated resolution throughout the framework of the Treaty of Non-Proliferation. We stay able to contribute to this along side our companions.”

Left-wing Latin American governments expressed fierce opposition

Iran-allied Venezuela referred to as the assaults “unlawful, unjustifiable and intensely harmful.” Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated they have been an insult to the Center East, whereas Chile’s President Gabriel Boric stated they violated “guidelines we’ve got established as humanity.” Mexico’s International Ministry made “an pressing name for peace.”

In distinction, Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei, a loyal ally of Mr. Trump and Netanyahu, praised the assaults on social media. “Terrorism, by no means once more,” his spokesperson stated.

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