World leaders responded cautiously to the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, emphasizing restraint while condemning Tehran’s retaliatory attacks. The sudden escalation, including strikes on Iranian military and political targets, has prompted fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East and concerns over global security.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Khamenei’s death on social media, calling it “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.” Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also indicated that Khamenei was killed during an airstrike on his compound. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and allied countries across the region.

Reactions from international governments varied. Australia and Canada expressed support for the U.S.-Israeli strikes, while Russia and China criticized the operation as an unprovoked act of aggression against a sovereign nation. European leaders—including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—called for the resumption of diplomatic talks, condemning Iranian attacks on neighboring countries while avoiding direct comment on the U.S.-Israeli action.

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Regional responses were similarly cautious but firm. The 22-nation Arab League condemned Iran’s attacks on Arab states as violations of sovereignty, while Morocco, Jordan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates denounced strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. Saudi Arabia called the Iranian actions “treacherous aggression,” and Oman criticized the U.S. strikes, urging peaceful resolution of disputes.

Nervousness was widespread. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide warned that failed negotiations could spark a “new, extensive war” in the Middle East. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons condemned the attacks, citing risks of escalation and nuclear proliferation. The European Union also called for restraint and regional diplomacy to safeguard nuclear security and prevent further instability.

Amid the turmoil, Palestinians in the West Bank reported daily life continuing despite the conflict, while local authorities in Israel imposed security measures, including closing checkpoints. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting, requested by Bahrain and France, to assess the situation and seek avenues for de-escalation. The global community remains on edge as the region faces heightened tensions and uncertainty over Iran’s political succession and regional stability.

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