Iran’s attack on Israel widely condemned

Multiple countries have condemned Iran’s Tuesday missile barrage on Israel, among them the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The United States said it was “well-positioned” to defend its allies in the region, with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan telling the press on Tuesday there would be “severe consequences” for Iran.

Sullivan noted that the United States had helped shoot down some of the Iranian missiles.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, assuring his “steadfast commitment” to Israel, Reuters reported.

His defense secretary, John Healey, said on X that British forces played a part in preventing “further escalation,” but did not elaborate.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned the attack as it happened. “Iran must stop the attack immediately,” she said, as it was “leading the region further towards the abyss.”

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Iran’s attack in the “strongest possible terms.”

“Committed to Israel’s security, France today mobilised its military resources in the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat,” the president’s office said.

Macron also called on Hezbollah to “cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population.”

The Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp also condemned the attack. “I have also emphasized this directly to the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs and urged Iran to refrain from further attacks. The NLs underlines the importance of de-escalation in the region.”

Staunchly pro-Israel politician Geert Wilders of Holland’s Party for Freedom went further, tweeting a post on X in Hebrew to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, “You are a psychopath, a dangerous maniac, a sick person who will lose because logic, democracy and freedom will win and we will always support Israel.”

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban tweeted, “We condemn the attack carried out against Israel. We pray for the safety of the Israeli people in these dark hours.”

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly tweeted, “We condemn these attacks by Iran against Israelis, forcing millions to take shelter, in the strongest possible terms.”

Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala tweeted, “We stand with Israel! As always!”

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said, “We strongly condemn Iran‘s missiles being targeted at Israel and its civilian population. We demand Iran to immediately cease hostilities against the State of Israel and fully support Israel‘s right to defend itself.”

Other countries condemning the attack and supporting Israel were Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Australia and New Zealand, among others.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his counterparts in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and other countries on Tuesday that Iran had shown self-restraint for more than two months as Israel conducted attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, and that it was only exercising its right to self-defense.

He warned third parties from interfering in the conflict, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Araqchi also denied rumors that Iran had warned the United States prior to the attack. Washington has also denied it had received forewarning from Iran.

Israel has said the attack would have consequences.

“This evening, Iran made a big mistake—and it will pay for it. The regime in Tehran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and to exact a price from our enemies,” said Netanyahu.

“We will keep to the rule we have determined: Whoever attacks us, we attack them,” he added.