US strike on Iran sparks international alarm, global condemnations
7 Min Read
The US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities have sparked intense international backlash over the strike's legality and potential to escalate conflict in the Middle East.
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President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One before departing on the South Lawn of the White House, on June 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
International reactions have poured in following the US attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday at dawn.
President Donald Trump announced earlier that the United States carried out what he described as a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave alarm over the US use of force against Iran, calling it a dangerous escalation that threatens international peace and security, and urged all parties to de-escalate, emphasizing that diplomacy, not military action, is the only viable path forward.
Global condemnations
The Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, stressed that: "Australia is alarmed by the escalation between Israel and Iran. This risks further destabilising a region that is already volatile. We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that will further exacerbate tensions."
"We all understand the threat of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program represents a threat to international peace and security, and we urge the parties to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy," he added.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, also condemned the attack: "It's a really unwelcome development in the Middle East. The risk of miscalculation is high. That region does not need any more military action, and risk associated with that."
Additionally, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stressed that: "Japan continues to make all necessary diplomatic efforts to prevent the further deterioration of the situation, while implementing every possible measure to ensure the protection of Japanese citizens."
Oman, which served as a mediator in the Iran–US nuclear negotiations, strongly condemned the recent US attack, calling it a “dangerous, reckless escalation” and a “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter and international law.
“Such aggressive, persistent behavior is unacceptable and further destabilizes regional peace and security,” the Omani government said in an official statement.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, describing them as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty, the safety of its people, and the principles of international law.
Moreover, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the recent Israeli attacks on Iranian territory and warned of serious regional consequences.
“China is closely monitoring the Israeli attacks on Iran,” the ministry said. “We are deeply concerned about the grave consequences that these operations may cause.”
Beijing emphasized that the sudden spike in tensions serves no one’s interests and risks further destabilizing the region.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the attack, warning that such aggressive actions risk triggering wider conflict in the region.
“Israel must immediately end its aggressive actions that could lead to greater conflicts,” the ministry said in a statement, while criticizing "Israel’s" approach to regional tensions, suggesting it has no interest in pursuing peaceful or diplomatic solutions.
Latin America
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez expressed on X that the country "Strongly condemns" the bombing, calling it a "dangerous escalation" of the situation in the Middle East.
The Cuban President warned that the aggressive act is a serious violation of the UN Charter and international law that could drag humanity into a crisis with "irreversible consequences."
Condenamos enérgicamente bombardeos de EEUU contra instalaciones nucleares de Irán que constituyen peligrosa escalada de conflicto en Oriente Medio.
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) June 22, 2025
Agresión viola gravemente Carta ONU y Derecho Internacional y arrastra a la humanidad a una crisis de irreversibles consecuencias.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed that Iran was not interested in developing nuclear weapons but rather aiming to achieve peaceful development.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric expressed that Chile condemns the US attack on Iran, and emphasized that attacks on nuclear plants are prohibited under international law
Additionally, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela "firmly and categorically" rejected the bombing carried out by the United States against nuclear facilities in Iran.
The Bolivian President, Luis Arce, stated that the US attack not only endangers regional and global peace but also violates fundamental principles of international law.
#COMUNICADO I La República Bolivariana de Venezuela rechaza de manera firme y categórica el bombardeo ejecutado por el ejército de los Estados Unidos contra instalaciones nucleares en la República Islámica de Irán. pic.twitter.com/U6u31ZksjV
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) June 22, 2025
ICAN and Red Cross warn US strikes on Iran threaten global stability
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued stark warnings on Sunday, condemning the recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as violations of international law and grave threats to regional and global security.
Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN, denounced the attacks as “senseless and reckless,” asserting that the move undermines both non-proliferation efforts and the fragile foundation of international peace.
“By joining Israel’s attack on Iran, the U.S. is also breaking international law,” Parke said. “Military action against Iran is not the way to resolve concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme.”
She pointed out that even US intelligence agencies have consistently reported that “Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons,” stressing that military aggression only serves to destabilize the global nuclear order. “This is a senseless and reckless act that could undermine international efforts to prevent the further proliferation of nuclear weapons,” she added.
ICAN, a Geneva-based organization and 2017 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, played a key role in drafting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which has been ratified by 69 countries. However, none of the world’s nuclear-armed powers have joined the treaty.
Criticizing the US administration’s role in the current escalation, Parke stated: “The US should have continued to pursue the diplomatic process under way before Israel resorted to the illegal use of force. This does not make the region or the world safer. It makes it more dangerous.”
Parke also issued a stark warning about the humanitarian and environmental consequences of targeting nuclear sites: “Striking nuclear installations is explicitly banned under international law and risks causing radioactive contamination harmful to human health and the environment.” She urged Washington to “stop all military action and return to the diplomatic path.”
Red Cross: World cannot absorb ‘limitless war’
Echoing ICAN’s concerns, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric warned that the spiraling military confrontation in the Middle East risks pushing the entire region, and potentially the world, into an uncontrollable war.
“The intensification and spread of major military operations in the Middle East risk engulfing the region , and the world, in a war with irreversible consequences,” Spoljaric said.
She underscored the critical need for compliance with international humanitarian law, stressing the protection of civilians and emergency responders:
“Civilians must be spared from the conduct of hostilities,” she said, adding that “medical personnel and first responders, including those from Iran’s Red Crescent and Israel’s Magen David Adom, must be protected.”
The ICRC, which is expanding its humanitarian operations in both Iran and "Israel", emphasized that emergency response alone is not enough.
“No humanitarian response can substitute for political will to prioritise peace, stability, and human life,” Spoljaric concluded.
As global concern mounts, both organizations are urging an immediate end to military escalation and a return to dialogue, warning that continued aggression could irreparably damage international norms and provoke a catastrophic humanitarian fallout.
