The coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, which Iranian authorities said killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have drawn sharply divided reactions across the world.
According to reporting by Reuters, AP News, Al Jazeera and The Guardian, reactions from Western governments largely emphasised deterrence of Iran, while Russia and China framed the strikes as violations of sovereignty and international law. Several regional and states focused primarily on de-escalation and preventing spillover.
United States and Supporters
US President Donald Trump issued fresh warnings to Iran after Tehran claimed it would retaliate following the killing of Khamenei. Trump wrote on social media that Iran “better not” launch further attacks against the US or Israel and said any such action would be met with force “that has never been seen before.”
Allied countries aligned with the United States reiterated their security concerns and emphasis on deterrence. Canada’s leadership backed the US response, and countries like Australia cited the need to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
European and Western Caution
Several European governments expressed concern about the escalation and urged diplomacy. Leaders from France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement urging Iran to pursue a negotiated solution and condemned Tehran’s retaliatory missiles. They stressed the importance of civilian protection and regional stability, while noting that they had not participated directly in the military strikes.
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said, “The United Kingdom played no role in these strikes.” He further added, "As part of our commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region -- which we've recently taken steps to strengthen," In his comments, he argued Iran "can end this now" and that Tehran "should refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programmes, and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people".
Watch his full statement here:
Spain echoed calls for de-escalation and adherence to international law, and Norway questioned the legality of the strikes.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Human Rights Chief expressed concern about the violence and urged an immediate end to hostilities, warning of humanitarian consequences.
Condemnation from Russia, China and Other States
Russia strongly condemned the US-Israel strikes, calling them a “preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression”. Russian officials accused Washington and Tel Aviv of undermining regional security and demanded an end to the violence.
Other governments outside the Western alliance also criticised the strikes or Iran’s retaliation, framing them as violations of sovereignty or international norms, and called for restraint.
Gulf States and Regional Reaction
Several Gulf countries condemned Iran’s missile attacks on their territories as violations of sovereignty and reaffirmed their right to defend themselves. Although reactions to the original strikes varied, governments in the region have emphasised de-escalation and security coordination with Western partners.
Calls for Diplomacy
Some countries with strategic neutrality, such as those in South Asia, called for immediate de-escalation and a return to diplomatic engagement. These statements focused on preventing wider conflict and mitigating humanitarian and economic consequences.
International Organisations
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting following the escalation, with diplomats and global leaders expressing broad concern about regional stability and the risk of a wider conflict. Several UN officials called for an immediate ceasefire and restoration of dialogue.
India’s Stand
India has called for immediate de-escalation and urged all sides to avoid further confrontation.
New Delhi emphasised dialogue and diplomatic engagement while underscoring the importance of regional stability. India has not publicly endorsed the strikes, nor has it issued a direct condemnation.
India’s position reflects its strategic ties with the United States and Israel, longstanding relations with Iran, energy security interests in West Asia, and the presence of a large Indian diaspora in Gulf countries.
Also Read: Who Was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
The 28 February 2026 Strikes
On 28 February, the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iranian military and strategic facilities. Iranian officials later confirmed that Khamenei was killed in the operation.
Following the strikes, Iran warned of retaliation and launched missile and drone attacks toward Israeli territory and US-linked assets in the region. Explosions were reported over parts of the Gulf, including Dubai, Doha, Manama (Bahrain) and Kuwait, where several countries host US military bases or facilities, and air defence systems were activated. Regional airspace saw disruptions amid heightened security alerts.
US President Donald Trump defended the strikes and warned that any further Iranian attacks on the United States or Israel would be met with “force that has never been seen before”.
Iran’s defence forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said those responsible for Khamenei’s killing would face punishment and warned of further action.
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The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran
