Tehran/Washington, June 22, 2025: Global reactions poured in on Sunday following U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, with world leaders split between praising the move and expressing deep alarm over what many fear could trigger a wider regional or even global conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recorded statement, hailed former President Donald Trump’s decision as a turning point:
“Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning, calling the strikes a “dangerous escalation”: “This is a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace.”
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters emphasized the need to avoid further military escalation: “Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying. We urge all parties to return to talks. Diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action.”
An Australian government spokesperson reiterated concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions but stressed the importance of restraint: “We note the U.S. President’s statement that now is the time for peace. The security situation in the region is highly volatile. We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.”
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry, in a post on X, echoed calls for peaceful resolution: “The ministry urgently calls for diplomatic dialogue for peace… We reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region. The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region is the highest priority.”
In a strongly worded statement, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil condemned the strikes:
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, in a post on X, criticized the U.S. for escalating tensions:
“We strongly condemn the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences.”
