At least three close US allies said they were ready to coordinate efforts to protect their interests in the Middle East and face retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
But several other countries have expressed concern that the conflict sparked by the coordinated US-Israeli attacks could escalate into a wider regional war, underscoring growing international divisions over the unfolding crisis in the Middle East.
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Britain, France and Germany said they were ready to cooperate with the United States. “We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially by enabling necessary and proportionate defensive actions to destroy Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones at their source,” they said in a statement Sunday, according to the AP.
“We have agreed to work with the US and allies in the region on this matter.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they were “horrified” by Iran’s “reckless” strikes on their allies, which threaten their nationals and citizens in the region.
US can use British bases for defensive strikes: Starmer
In fact, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country had accepted a U.S. request to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in storage or launchers. But Starmer said the UK would not join strikes on Iran.
“The United States has requested permission to use British bases for this specific and limited defense purpose. We have decided to accept this request to prevent Iran from launching missiles across the region,” he said in a video message on X.
Massive explosions rocked the Iranian capital for a second day as Israel’s military said it was targeting the “heart” of Tehran. Iran continued to target Israel and US military bases in the Gulf states. Iranian officials rushed to plan for the future after the death of Khamenei, who had no designated successor, as some Iranians who have long suffered political repression celebrated.
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There were outraged protests or outbursts of celebration in the streets around the world.
Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States in the history of the Catholic Church, said he was “deeply concerned” by the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and urged both sides to “stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable chasm.”
A defining moment in Iran’s history: the EU
Top diplomats from the 27 European Union countries held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the situation and the bloc’s next steps.
“The death of Ali Khamenei is a defining moment in the history of Iran. What comes next is uncertain,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “But now the way is open to another Iran, one that its people can have more freedom to shape.”
Many countries, including several in the Middle East, refrained from direct or sharply commenting on joint strikes, but condemned Tehran’s retaliation.
The 22-nation Arab League called Iran’s “retaliatory” attacks on US and Israeli bases in the region a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate peace and seek stability”.
The United Arab Emirates has closed its embassy in Iran
“Come back to your senses… and act sensibly and responsibly with your neighbors before the circle of isolation and escalation widens,” Anwar Gargash, an adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, told the Iranian theocracy. The United Arab Emirates has closed its embassy in Iran and announced the withdrawal of its diplomatic mission after the country was hit by Iranian strikes.
The UAE foreign minister met with counterparts from five other Gulf states in an extraordinary virtual meeting on Sunday. The top diplomats said their countries retain a “legal right to respond and the right to self-defense” under international law.
Russia and China criticize the killing of Khamenei
Russian leader Vladimir Putin condemned Khamenei’s killing, calling it a “cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.”
“The blatant killing of the leader of a sovereign state and the incitement of regime change are unacceptable,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. “These actions violate international law and basic norms governing international relations.”
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Wang said that attacking a sovereign state without the authorization of the UN Security Council undermines the foundations of peace established after World War II.
At least 22 people have been killed in clashes with police in northern Pakistan and the southern port city of Karachi after hundreds of protesters stormed the US consulate there, authorities said.
In Iraq, hundreds of people wore black and waved flags belonging to Iran-backed Iraqi militias and red flags, which symbolize revenge in the Shiite Muslim faith, as they marched through Sadr City to condemn the killing of Khamenei.
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Anger flared at protests in Istanbul and among Shia Muslims in India. Demonstrations were also held in cities including New York, Berlin, Paris and Vienna by members of the Iranian diaspora and their supporters to celebrate the end of Khamenei’s rule. Some protesters waved flags of the Iranian monarchy, while Israeli and American flags were also on display.
How did India respond?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the call, Modi discussed the regional situation and called for an early end to hostilities. He expressed India’s concern over recent developments and stressed that the safety of civilians must remain a priority.
PM Modi also spoke to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and strongly criticized the Iranian attacks. He also expressed gratitude to the UAE President for taking care of the Indian community living in the Gulf country and said that New Delhi supports de-escalation, regional peace, security and stability.
The blatant killing of the leader of a sovereign state and the incitement of regime change are unacceptable.
However, there was no official word from the Indian side about Khamenei’s killing.
