Tehran: Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States following a series of US airstrikes on its key nuclear facilities, including the sites at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. The strikes, which Washington claims have crippled Iran’s nuclear capability, have drawn sharp reactions not only from Tehran but also from global powers concerned about the deepening crisis in the Middle East.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi condemned the US attacks as “outrageous” and warned that the action would have “everlasting consequences.” He stressed that Iran reserves “all options” to defend its sovereignty. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei echoed this sentiment, cautioning the US against further involvement. “Any further interference will cause irreparable damage. The region will not remain silent,” Khamenei said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
The strikes have triggered alarm across the international community. China denounced the US action, with President Xi Jinping stating that instability in the Middle East would have global repercussions. “If the Middle East is unstable, the world will not be at peace,” Xi said. Beijing called on Washington to exercise restraint and urged all parties to return to diplomacy, warning that the US could be “repeating past strategic mistakes.”
The United Nations also voiced serious concerns. Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as “catastrophic” and appealed for an immediate halt to hostilities. He emphasized that civilians would bear the brunt of any escalation and that the conflict risked spreading beyond the region.
Several other nations added their voices to calls for de-escalation. Gulf states like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman urged restraint, with Oman, a previous mediator in nuclear negotiations, condemning the US strikes outright. Iraq warned that regional peace and stability were under threat. The United Kingdom, while stressing the need to address nuclear risks, pushed for a renewed focus on dialogue.
