The United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran and allies around the world responded with a mix of caution, support, and urgent calls for restraint. This article lays out how key partners from Europe, the Anglosphere, the Gulf, and the EU reacted to strikes that could reshape security in the Middle East.
Washington’s strikes prompted immediate, varied reactions from capitals that have long been part of America’s security network. Some leaders warned that escalation risks broad instability, while other partners publicly backed the U.S. objective of stopping Iran’s nuclear and ballistic ambitions.
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced deep alarm and urged rapid diplomacy. “The outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran carries grave consequences for international peace and security,” Macron wrote in a Saturday morning X , several hours after President Donald Trump announced the strikes.
Macron doubled down on the need to halt the fighting and force Iran back to the negotiating table. “The ongoing escalation is dangerous for all. It must stop. The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good faith in negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as its regional destabilization activities. This is absolutely necessary for the security of all in the Middle East,” the French president continued. “The Iranian people must also be able to freely build their future.”
He further called for urgent international action through the UN Security Council to address Tehran’s behavior. “The massacres committed by the Islamic regime disqualify it and demand that the voice be returned to the people. The sooner, the better,” Macron added. “Faithful to its principles and aware of its international responsibilities, France is calling for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.”
Canada moved quickly to back American aims while stressing civilian protection and human rights concerns. “Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” Carney wrote in a Saturday morning statement to X minutes after Macron’s post. “The Canadian government urges the protection of all civilians in this conflict.”
Ottawa framed Iran as a core source of regional instability and stressed solidarity with Iranians opposed to their regime. “Canada’s position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons,” the Canadian prime minister added. “Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran’s oppressive regime.”
Across the Atlantic, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer struck a cautious tone that mixed concern with condemnation of Tehran. In a video address he noted public anxiety about regional stability and underscored that the British view Iran as a malign actor. Keir Starmer said in a video address Saturday to X that he knows “the British people … would be deeply concerned about what this means for security and stability and for the fate of innocent people across the region.”
Starmer reiterated long-standing Western demands that Iran abandon its nuclear ambitions and cease repression at home. “But we have long been clear – the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent. They have murdered thousands of their own people, brutally crushed dissent, and sought to destabilize the region,” Starmer continued. “Even in the United Kingdom, the Iranian regime poses a direct threat to dissidents and the Jewish community.”
Australia offered straightforward backing for U.S. goals while emphasizing human rights for Iranians. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his X post, “We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security.”
Albanese joined other partners in urging protection of civilians and support for Iranians who want freedom from suppression. “Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression,” he added. “With international partners, including the United States and the G7, we have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens.”
Regional Gulf partners reacted sharply against Iran’s recent strikes, framing Tehran as the aggressor. The Saudi Foreign Ministry warned of serious repercussions and pledged support to affected neighbors. The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia wrote in a Saturday statement posted to X that the Kingdom “condemns and denounces in strongest terms the blatant Iranian aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.”
Riyadh signaled readiness to back its neighbors and warned of broader consequences for continued violations of sovereignty. “The Kingdom affirms its full solidarity with and unwavering support for the brotherly countries, and its readiness to place all its capabilities at their disposal in support of any measures they may undertake,” the Saudi statement continues. “It also warns of the grave consequences resulting from the continued violation of states’ sovereignty and the principles of international law.”
The European Union underlined sanctions and diplomacy even as it acknowledged the threat Iran poses. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned of the wider risks and said the bloc is coordinating with partners. “The latest developments across the Middle East are perilous,” European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on X following the announcements of Trump’s and Netanyahu’s strikes. “Iran’s regime has killed thousands. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, along with support for terror groups, pose a serious threat to global security.”
In Washington, these reactions will be weighed as the administration navigates military options and diplomatic channels with allies. Allies’ mixed messages leave room for firm U.S. leadership while confirming the need to protect civilians and prevent wider conflict in an already fragile region.
