World leaders call for restraint after Israeli airstrikes on Iran | Iran

World leaders have called for restraint following the first open Israeli airstrikes on Iran, with Tehran reaffirming that it has “the right and duty to defend itself.”

The Israeli Air Force struck around 20 military bases across Iran in the early hours of Saturday, including missile and drone production sites and air defense systems.

The expected attack was in retaliation for a missile barrage launched by Iran on October 1, in which an estimated 180 ballistic missiles were fired at Tel Aviv and military bases. This attack was again launched in support of Hezbollah after the Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon, Tehran said.

US news outlets reported on Saturday that the Israeli airstrikes had been telegraphed to the Iranians in advance and there had been no change to the Israeli home front's instructions to civilians, suggesting that Iranian retaliation was not imminent. Nonetheless, the Israeli operation has a lot at stake and brings the Middle East one step closer to a full-scale regional war.

The United States, Israel's main ally and major arms supplier, called the Israeli attack a “self-defense exercise” that minimized the risk of civilian harm. “We call on Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation,” said Sean Savett, spokesman for the White House National Security Council.

Keir Starmer echoed Washington's stance. At a news conference in Samoa, the prime minister said: “I realize that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. It is also clear to me that we must avoid further regional escalation and call on all sides to exercise restraint. Iran should not react. We will continue to work with allies to de-escalate the situation across the region.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz also warned Iran against escalation. “My message to Iran is clear: the massive escalation of reactions must not continue. These must be stopped immediately. Only then can we open up the possibility of peaceful development in the Middle East,” he wrote on X.

The French Foreign Ministry called on Israel to “refrain from any escalation or action that could exacerbate the context of extreme tensions in the region.”

Middle Eastern countries generally called for de-escalation while criticizing the Israeli operation, codenamed “Days of Atonement,” as a violation of Iran's sovereignty.

Saudi Arabia, the geopolitical hub of the Sunni Muslim world, said it condemned the Israeli attack as a “violation of international laws and norms.” Relations between Riyadh and Tehran, which are vying for dominance in the region, have improved over the past year. In an agreement negotiated by China in 2023, the countries resumed diplomatic relations.

The Gulf states of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which, like Saudi Arabia, could be caught up in a regional escalation, also condemned the Israeli air strikes. “The UAE strongly condemns the military attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran and expresses its deep concern over the ongoing escalation and its impact on regional security and stability,” the UAE Foreign Ministry said.

The attack was a “flagrant violation of Iran's sovereignty and a clear violation of international law,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry said, adding that the international community must step up its diplomatic efforts to “address the suffering of the peoples of the region, especially in Iran.” to put an end to it.” Gaza and Lebanon”.

Egypt, which along with Qatar brokered indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas last year, said it “condemns any actions that threaten the stability of the region.” A deal is the “only path to de-escalation,” the State Department said in a statement.

The Iraqi prime minister's office said Israel “continues its aggressive policies and the expansion of the conflict in the region, using blatant acts of aggression without deterrence.” The neighboring country, which briefly closed its airspace after the Israeli attack, also reiterated its calls for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that is fighting Israel in Gaza, said on the messaging app Telegram: “We view this as a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that endangers the security of the region and the security of its people, and “We place full responsibility on the occupation (Israel) for the consequences of this aggression supported by the United States of America.”

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militia also allied with Iran, against which Israel launched a ground offensive earlier this month.

Syria, a staunch ally of Iran that was also reportedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes overnight, expressed “solidarity” with Tehran. A State Department statement said Damascus “supports Iran’s legitimate right to defend itself and protect its territory and the lives of its citizens.”

Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia also joined the chorus of condemnation of Israel on Saturday morning.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was concerned about an “explosive escalation” of hostilities between Iran and Israel that could spiral out of control.