International leaders issued urgent calls for de-escalation Friday following Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities, a move that has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. The strikes, which reportedly killed senior figures, drew condemnation from multiple nations and sparked concerns over global security.
UN Warns of ‘Deeper Conflict’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged “maximum restraint” amid rising tensions, emphasizing the need to avoid actions that could destabilize the Middle East further. A UN spokesperson highlighted Guterres’s alarm over attacks near nuclear sites, particularly as U.S.-Iran negotiations remain ongoing.
Russia, China Voice Concerns
Russia condemned the strikes as “unprovoked,” with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling the escalation “unacceptable.” China expressed “deep worry” about potential consequences, urging diplomatic solutions. Meanwhile, the EU’s Kaja Kallas stressed that “diplomacy remains the best path forward.”
Middle Eastern Nations React
Jordan closed its airspace, declaring it “will not be a battleground,” while Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of “banditry.” Iraq and Libya warned of threats to international peace, and Tunisia denounced the strikes as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty, urging UN intervention.
As global powers weigh responses, the crisis underscores the fragile balance in a region already grappling with protracted tensions.
