French President, Emmanuel Macron has said that France had repeatedly condemned the Iran nuclear programme and reaffirmed its belief in Israel’s right to protect itself.
Writing in a post on X, Macron disclosed that he had spoken with several world leaders, including Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, and US President Donald Trump.
Also, Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed Germany’s belief in Israel’s right “to defend its existence.”
He iterated that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb while calling for both sides to refrain from escalation.
Merz said that Germany was coordinating closely with partners, particularly the United States, Britain and France.
Merz noted that Germany has expressed concern about Iran’s advanced nuclear weapons programme for many years and that Iran continues to fail to fulfill its obligations to disclose its work on enriching nuclear-capable material.
These remarks came after Israel attacked several Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites, and carried out assassinations of top military officials and nuclear scientists.
An initial wave of strikes was carried out. A second, separate attack on the city of Tabriz, northwest Iran, was reported by local media later on Friday.
According to the IDF, Tehran responded by firing more than 100 drones toward Israeli territory. The IDF said Israeli defenses were working to intercept the drones.
Israel has declared a state of emergency, closing schools, banning social gatherings and advising against non-essential work. Israeli hospitals have been ordered to halt outpatient and non-urgent activities and move to protected areas, and the Israeli military is calling up “tens of thousands” of soldiers to prepare for what comes next.
Israel, Iran and Jordan have all closed their airspaces. The Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC) Chief Commissioner, Haitham Misto said that the decision was in line with the international civil aviation standards and flight safety obligations, and that the temporary closure would be continuously assessed and reviewed.
Israel’s attack has led to fears of a wider military conflict in the region, with Tehran promising a “harsh response.”
Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that Iran will not remain silent following Israel’s brazen attacks, warning that a “powerful” response by the Islamic Republic will make “the enemy regret its foolish act.”
Addressing the nation, the President urged Iranians to remain united and to rally behind the government.
Iran’s Arab Neighbors Condemn Israel’s Recent Strikes As Concerns Over Regional Escalation Soar
Meanwhile, multiple Arab countries issued statements of condemnation against Israel’s strikes on Iran, a clear indication of their intent to avoid becoming targets amid the current escalation.
Saudi Arabia expressed its “strong condemnation and denunciation” of Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear program and senior military leaders. “While the Kingdom condemns these heinous attacks, it affirms that the international community and the (UN) Security Council bear a great responsibility to halt this aggression,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.
Iran and Saudi Arabia have shared a rivalry for decades as two regional powerhouses divided on religious lines. They have significantly improved their relations recently.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, condemned the attack “in the strongest terms.”
Qatar, which has been accused by Israeli officials of supporting Hamas, called Israel’s attack “a blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security.”
The largest United States military base in the Middle East is located in Qatar, while the UAE hosts thousands of American troops near the capital Abu Dhabi, making these countries targets if Iran chose to retaliate against Israel’s biggest ally, the US.
Oman, which is mediating talks between Washington and Tehran condemned Israel’s attack, saying it was “reckless” and executed at an “extremely sensitive time” for the nuclear negotiations.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who is striving to establish sovereignty by decreasing the influence Iran has established for decades over his country, said that he strongly condemned the “dangerous Israeli aggression.” He added, “It constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and Iranian sovereignty, and its repercussions threaten the stability of the entire region and even world peace.”
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