February 28, 2026 | 08:02 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Global leaders and authorities are reacting to the news of the US and Israeli joint attack on Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026, and that Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev criticized the United States for the attacks that occurred while the country was engaged in nuclear negotiations with Iran in Europe.
"The peacemaker once again showed his face," said Medvedev, the former president of Russia. "All negotiations with Iran are a cover operation. No one doubted it. No one really wanted to negotiate anything."
"The question is who has more patience to wait for the inglorious end of their enemy. The USA is only 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded more than 2,500 years ago. Let's see in 100 years…"
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed concerns that this conflict would drag his country into a larger-scale conflict.
"I reiterate that we will not accept anyone dragging the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity."
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized that Israel's attack violated international law. "The attack is described by Israel as a preventive strike, but it is not in line with international law. Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat," he stated.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas referred to the developments as "perilous" and said she had spoken with the Israeli foreign minister this morning. "Protection of civilians and international humanitarian law is a priority," she said, as cited by CNN.
Switzerland said it was “deeply alarmed” by the strikes. It called for “full respect of international law” and urged all parties “to exercise maximum restraint” and to protect civilians.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the US and Israel's attacks on Iran "bring the Middle East to the edge of catastrophe," urging Washington and Tehran to "pursue a diplomatic off-ramp rather than further escalation."
Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar said she was following the latest developments "with great concern" and wrote in X that "we are witnessing a serious escalation of regional tensions, thereby endangering peace and stability in the Middle East.”
France’s President Emmanuel Macron said that “the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran carries grave consequences for international peace and security.”
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country supports Washington's act to "prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security. He said Iran "is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that his country “support(s) the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Albanese also said Australia stands with "the brave people of Iran" as they "struggle against oppression."
Read: Indonesia 'Regrets' US Attack on Iran, Says Prabowo Willing to Mediate
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