International Desk, Bangladesh Global: American and Israeli forces have carried out strikes on cities across Iran, in what US President Donald Trump has described as "major combat operations". Trump has called for the Iranian people to rise up and government forces to surrender following what Israel called a "preemptive attack". In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement it was targeting US bases and assets across the Middle East as part of operation "Truthful Promise 4",
United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, condemned the military escalation, and warned that international peace and security are being undermined. An emergency UN Security Council meeting has been called for later on Saturday. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called for restraint and urged all parties "to see reason, to de-escalate, and for a return to the 'negotiating table'".
Saudi Arabia condemned the retaliatory attacks on Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait as it denounced in the "strongest terms blatant Iranian aggression". Bahrain confirmed that an Iranian missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet that it hosts, and called the attack “treacherous”. The targetted Gulf States have all collectively denounced Iranian strikes, calling them “flagrant violation” of international law and evoking their right to respond.
Oman, the main mediator in ongoing US-Iran negotiations, expressed dismay at the outbreak of violence. Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the conflict would not serve US interests, nor the interests of global peace, and urged Washington “not to get sucked in” further.
A joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also urged Iran to "seek a negotiated solution". The UK stated its forces “are active and planes are in the sky today as part of coordinated regional defensive operations.” “Iran can end this now,” Starmer said, calling on them to “give up their weapons programmes, and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa called the conflict “greatly concerning” and urged all parties “to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law”. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country backed the US "acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security".
Russia condemned the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, saying it was a "reckless move". China called for an immediate end to military actions and stressed “respect” for Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Brazil also condemned the US and Israeli attacks and expressed "grave concern".
The Red Cross called on countries to respect the rules of war and urged them to find the political will to prevent “further death and destruction”, warning that “a dangerous chain reaction” of military escalation will be under way across the Middle East, “with potentially devastating consequences for civilians”.
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