Gulf states condemn Iran retaliatory strikes as Russia denounces ‘unprovoked' US-Israeli war

Air defense systems in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait intercepted Iranian missiles targeting US military installations  

News Desk - The Cradle 

Persian Gulf states condemned Iranian missile strikes targeting US bases on their territory in retaliation for the US-Israeli “pre-emptive” assault on Iran, calling them violations of sovereignty, while Russia denounced the US-Israeli assault and urged diplomacy, in statements issued on 28 February.

Qatar condemned the targeting within its territory with Iranian ballistic missiles, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of its national sovereignty, saying the retaliatory strikes targeting US bases amounted to “a direct infringement on its security and territorial integrity,” and warned it “reserves its full right to respond to this attack.”

Striking within Qatari territory “is inconsistent with the principles of good neighbourliness and cannot be accepted under any pretext or justification,” the statement adds.

Saudi Arabia condemned “in the strongest terms the blatant Iranian aggression,” voicing “full solidarity” with the affected states and warning of “grave consequences.”

All Persian Gulf states reported intercepting Iranian missiles targeting US military installations on their territory, while the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait also condemned the attacks as violations of sovereignty and affirmed their right to respond under international law.

Oman’s Foreign Minister and chief negotiator in indirect US-Iran talks, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, expressed “dismay” over the joint US–Israeli airstrikes on Iran, warning that the attacks have “yet again been undermined” active diplomacy at a moment when a nuclear “peace deal” was “within our reach.”

Albusaidi urged Washington “not to get sucked in further,” saying bluntly, “This is not your war,” and argued the strikes serve neither US interests nor global peace. He also voiced concern for the “innocents who will suffer” as escalation deepens.

The FM added that Iran is also prepared to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) full access to nuclear sites, and that he is “quite confident” that even US inspectors could eventually gain entry.

US President Donald Trump, however, said he is “not happy” with the pace of talks, shortly before launching the wave of airstrikes that 

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the “unprovoked armed attack by the United States and Israel on Iran in violation of the principles and norms of international law,” urging an immediate halt and a return to diplomacy. 

Tehran announced plans to convene the UN Security Council and thanked Russia for its “unwavering and firm support.”

China said it is “highly concerned” over the US-Israeli strikes and called for an “immediate stop of the military actions” and renewed dialogue.

European leaders warned the situation had become “perilous,” 

Germany, France, and Britain denounced Iran’s retaliatory strikes, urging Tehran to avoid 'indiscriminate military actions' and return to ‘negotiations.’

"We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms," Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and Keir Starmer said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide condemned the US-Israeli attacks, rejecting the “preventive” or “pre-emptive” framing of the strikes and arguing that such action does not meet the strict standards of international law, adding that a pre-emptive strike requires evidence of an “immediately imminent threat,” which had not been demonstrated.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk and the ICRC warned that continued escalations will trigger a "dangerous chain reaction," resulting in widespread civilian death and “human misery.”