International criticism: outrage and concern after Iran’s attack on Israel

Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said via Platform Diplomatic circles said the meeting in New York could still take place on Sunday evening.

Biden promised support for Israel
“Our commitment to Israel’s security against the threats from Iran and its allies is unwavering,” US President Biden wrote in a post on X on Saturday evening (local time). He also published a photo of a meeting with his crisis team in the Situation Room, the operations center in the White House. It also features US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will take part in the talks on Saturday.

Nehammer: “Austria is on Israel’s side”
On Sunday evening on X, Chancellor Nehammer condemned the Iranian attack on Israel “in the strongest possible terms.” Austria is on Israel’s side, Nehammer said: “We call on Iran to immediately stop any hostility.” Foreign Minister Schallenberg was also very concerned about Iran’s attacks on Israel. “This is a new level of escalation in an already extremely dangerous situation,” he wrote on X.

National Council Chairman Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) made a similar statement, condemning Iran’s “unjustified attack” on Israel “in the strongest possible terms.” This is “an unprecedented escalation and a serious threat to regional security,” Sobotka said in a statement. “I call on Iran and its allies in the region to prevent further escalation and provocation.”

Neighboring country Egypt “very concerned”
UN Secretary General Guterres sees the risk of a catastrophic deterioration of the situation in the Middle East following Iran’s attack on Israel. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia expressed deep concern over the military escalations in the region and their serious consequences, and called on all parties to exercise utmost restraint. Egypt also expressed “extreme concern” over the attack on neighboring Israel and called for extreme restraint. Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in 1979.

EU politicians advise against further escalation
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell strongly condemned the Iranian attack on Israel, calling it an “unprecedented escalation”. EU Council President Charles Michel made similar comments. “Everything must be done to prevent further regional escalation,” he further wrote. “All actors must now refrain from further escalation and work to restore stability in the region,” the Commission chief continued.

Germany: Iran risks “regional fire”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has “strongly condemned” the serious Iranian air strikes on Israeli territory. Scholz, who is currently on a three-day visit to China, wants to discuss a response with the G7 countries. Iran risks a “regional conflagration,” German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on Sunday morning, immediately after Scholz’s arrival in the Chinese city of Chongqing.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne also condemned Iran’s attack. “By deciding to take such unprecedented action, Iran is taking the next step in its destabilizing actions and risks military escalation,” he wrote on X.

British Prime Minister: “Chaos in Iran’s backyard”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also “strongly condemned” the Iranian attack on Israel. “These attacks threaten to escalate tensions and destabilize the region,” Sunak said in a statement on Saturday evening. “Iran has once again shown that it intends to create chaos in its own backyard.”