BRUSSELS — Global leaders expressed cautious concern Saturday following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and reports of the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Questions about the potential escalation and regional impact of the conflict resonated worldwide.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Khamenei’s death on social media, describing it as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country,” while noting that joint airstrikes would continue. Israel also indicated the Supreme Leader had likely been killed in the strike on his compound, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iran has yet to issue an official comment.
The reported death of Khamenei, who had no designated successor, raises uncertainties over Iran’s future leadership and could heighten concerns of broader conflict. In response, the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting.
Many nations, wary of straining relations with the U.S., refrained from directly commenting on the strikes, condemning instead Iran’s retaliatory actions. Arab League nations denounced the Iranian attacks on neighboring countries, while European countries urged restraint.
Some countries spoke more explicitly: Australia and Canada voiced support for the U.S. strikes, while Russia and China criticized the military action. Russia called the strikes “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign state,” while China emphasized that Iran’s “sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected” and urged a return to negotiations.
The U.S. and Israel’s strikes prompted retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. bases across the region. In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for renewed negotiations, emphasizing that the Iranian people must ultimately determine their own future. Macron later stressed that military action alone cannot resolve issues related to Iran’s nuclear program or regional destabilization.
Arab nations including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates condemned the Iranian strikes targeting U.S. bases in the region. Oman, acting as a mediator between Iran and the U.S., described the strikes as violations of international law.
Meanwhile, civilians in the West Bank reported minimal disruption despite missile interceptions over Israel. However, checkpoints and supply concerns prompted longer lines at gas stations. The Palestinian Authority condemned Iran’s attacks on Arab states but did not mention U.S. or Israeli actions.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide warned of the risk of “a new, extensive war in the Middle East.” The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons called the strikes “totally irresponsible,” citing concerns about escalation and nuclear proliferation. European Union leaders and the Arab League urged all parties to pursue diplomacy to ensure regional stability and nuclear safety.
The situation remains fluid as nations weigh responses to the strikes and the potential ramifications of Iran’s reported leadership vacuum.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
