Latest World Reaction to US‑Israel Strikes on Iran & Reported Death of Khamenei

How long will it last? Will it escalate? What does the conflict — and the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — mean for the region and global security? Those questions reverberated across the Middle East and beyond on Saturday as world leaders reacted cautiously to US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that Khamenei was dead, calling it “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” Iranian state media reported early Sunday that the 86-year-old leader had died, without providing details on the cause.

Israeli officials, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, had earlier said Khamenei was dead. In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited “growing signs” that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday.

The apparent death of only the second leader of the Islamic Republic — and one who had not publicly designated a successor — would likely plunge the country into uncertainty and intensify fears of a broader regional conflict. The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting.

Many governments, wary of further straining relations with Washington, avoided direct criticism of the joint US-Israeli strikes while condemning Tehran’s retaliation. Several European and Middle Eastern countries denounced Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Arab neighbors but stopped short of openly criticizing the US or Israel.

Others were more explicit. Australia and Canada voiced support for the US action, while Russia and China issued sharp rebukes.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale assault on Iran on Saturday, and Trump urged Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic theocracy that has governed the country since 1979. Iran responded by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and US military bases across the region.

Some leaders urge return to negotiations

In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Washington and Tehran to resume talks, emphasizing their preference for a negotiated settlement. They said their countries were not involved in the strikes but remained in close contact with the US, Israel and regional partners.

The three nations have led diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes,” they said, adding that “ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

Later, Macron said France had been “neither warned nor involved” in the strikes and stressed that “no one can think that the questions of Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic activity, regional destabilization will be settled by strikes alone.”

The 22-member Arab League described Iran’s attacks as “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability.” The bloc has historically criticized both Israel and Iran when it believes their actions threaten regional stability.

Morocco, Jordan, Syria and the United Arab Emirates condemned Iranian strikes targeting US military bases in countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Emirates.

Under former President Bashar al-Assad, Syria had been one of Iran’s closest allies and a vocal critic of Israel. However, a statement from Syria’s foreign ministry focused solely on condemning Iran — underscoring the new government’s efforts to rebuild ties with regional powers and the United States.

Saudi Arabia said it “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian aggression and the blatant violation of sovereignty.” Oman, which has mediated talks between Tehran and Washington, said the US action violated international law and the principle of resolving disputes through peaceful means.

Carefully calibrated language

New Zealand stopped short of outright endorsement but acknowledged that the US and Israeli strikes had constrained what it described as a destabilizing regime. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a joint statement that “the legitimacy of a government rests on the support of its people,” adding that “the Iranian regime has long since lost that support.”

Across Europe and the Middle East, governments largely chose measured language, seeking to avoid appearing to endorse unilateral US military action or directly condemn Washington.

Russia was more direct. Its Foreign Ministry called the strikes “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state,” accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of using nuclear concerns as a pretext for regime change.

China’s government said it was “highly concerned” about the strikes and called for an immediate halt to military operations and a return to negotiations, emphasizing respect for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Despite periodic tensions with Washington, Canada expressed support for the operation. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Islamic Republic of Iran remains a principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East.

At the request of Bahrain and France, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on the strikes.

Fears of a wider war

In the occupied West Bank, many Palestinians appeared largely unfazed as the conflict escalated, even as booms from Israel’s missile defense system echoed overhead. Unlike in Israel, Palestinian cities lack warning sirens and bomb shelters, despite the risk of falling debris.

As Israel closed checkpoints on Saturday, long lines formed at gas stations as residents filled spare containers amid fears of supply disruptions. The Palestinian Authority condemned Iran’s attacks on Arab countries but did not mention the US or Israeli strikes.

Nervousness was evident elsewhere. Norway’s foreign minister warned that the collapse of US-Iran negotiations risked triggering a “new, extensive war in the Middle East.”

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons condemned the strikes as “totally irresponsible,” warning they could fuel escalation, nuclear proliferation and even the use of nuclear weapons.

European Union leaders issued a joint appeal for restraint and renewed regional diplomacy to ensure nuclear safety. The Arab League likewise urged all parties to de-escalate swiftly and return to dialogue to spare the region further instability and violence.