The joint U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran Saturday drew mixed reactions from around the globe. The big picture: European leaders largely called for restraint and diplomacy to avoid further escalation, while U.S. adversaries condemned President Trump's decision to pursue military action. What they're saying: Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union's chief executive, in a statement on X called on "all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law." "The European Union has adopted extensive sanctions in response to the actions of Iran's murderous regime and the Revolutionary Guards and has consistently promoted diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the nuclear and ballistic programmes through a negotiated solution," she said. French President Emmanuel Macron said in a translated X post that the "outbreak of war" between the U.S., Israel and Iran "carries grave consequences." "The ongoing escalation is dangerous for all," he said, calling for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. "It must stop." In a joint statement, the leaders of France, Germany and the U.K. reiterated their "commitment to regional stability" and called for a "resumption of negotiations." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a Trump critic, shared support for the U.S. in a statement on X. He called the Islamic Republic of Iran "the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country supports the U.S. decision and "stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression," a reference to the protest movement that the Iranian regime has tried to suppress with force in recent months. Calls to uphold the human rights of the people of Iran have "gone unheeded," he said in his post, adding: "A regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy." The Saudi Arabian foreign ministry also condemned Iranian aggression in a statement on X and called on "the international community" to "take all firm measure necessary" to secure the region. The other side: Meanwhile, U.S. adversaries seized on the news to criticize U.S. foreign policy. Russia's foreign ministry called the attack "a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state." In a post picked up by several media outlets from the messaging app Telegram, the foreign ministry accused the U.S. and Israel of "hiding behind" worries about Iran's nuclear program and starting "humanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe." China's state news agency on X posted a caricature of Uncle Sam with the message "Hegemonism is the only language I know." It said in a separate post from its foreign ministry that China is "highly concerned" over the strikes. "Hegemonism is the only language I know." #USA #ISRAEL #IRAN pic.twitter.com/nsgnkaN9rB — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 28, 2026 Catch up quick: Trump pressed Tehran to agree to a new nuclear agreement to curb uranium enrichment and impose stricter oversight of Iran's nuclear program, warning that failure to reach a deal would trigger military consequences. Early Saturday morning, he defended the military action in a video accusing Iran of using "mass terror" ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "We're not going to put up with it any longer," Trump said. Zoom out: Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, who mediated several rounds of nuclear talks between Iran and U.S. negotiators, met with Vice President Vance in D.C. on Friday. "I am dismayed," he said on X Saturday. "Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined." "I urge the United States not to get sucked in further," Albusaidi later added. "This is not your war." Go deeper: U.S. AND ISRAEL BEGIN "MAJOR COMBAT OPERATIONS" IN IRAN Israel targets Khamenei, top leaders in bid to bring down Iran's regime