Countries in the Middle East and around the world voiced fear of a regional conflagration after the United States and Israel carried out long-feared strikes on Iran on Saturday.
Russia called on its citizens to leave Iran, with former president Dmitry Medvedev saying that talks with the United States had just been a “cover”.
“The peacekeeper is at it again,” Medvedev, now the chair of Russia’s security council, said in a post on X.
“The talks with Iran were just a cover. Everyone knew that. So who has more patience to wait for the enemy’s sorry end now?” he added.
Qatar, which hosts a US military base, initially said it was secure after the US and Israeli attacks on neighbouring Iran but was monitoring developments closely.
An official later told AFP that Qatari defence systems had intercepted an Iranian missile, and the defence ministry said it had repelled “a number of attacks”.
The European Union warned the situation in the region was “perilous” and called for civilians to be protected in any ensuing conflict.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, on X, urged “all parties to exercise restraint”, stressing it was “critical” to “ensure nuclear safety” after the US indicated Iran’s nuclear sites were in its crosshairs.
EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who said the situation was dangerous, announcing the withdrawal of the bloc’s non-essential personnel from the region.
The UK government feared the strikes could blow up into a broader Middle East conflict, and urged its citizens in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE to find shelter.
“We do not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict,” a government spokesperson said, adding that the UK’s “immediate priority” was the safety of its citizens in the region.
