How Have Countries Around the World Responded to the US-Israel War on Iran?
Al Jazeera tracks global reactions to the US-Israel war on Iran, from Gulf anger to European restraint and diplomatic mediation.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
The article says the war on Iran has pushed states into a mix of condemnation, self-protection, and mediation. Gulf countries were directly hit, European allies avoided joining, and Pakistan emerged as a key mediator while oil shocks widened the stakes.
The story is like a huge neighborhood fight that started in one house but spilled into the whole street. Some countries tried to stop it, some got hit by flying rocks, and others stepped in like referees because oil, ships, and safety were being hurt too.
Analysis
Regional reactions
The article marks 100 days since the US and Israel launched war on Iran and says the conflict has already fed a global energy crisis and worsened the economic outlook. It notes that while a fragile ceasefire has held since April 8, fighting has continued elsewhere, including Israel's attacks in Lebanon.
Gulf states under pressure
The Gulf region has been pulled directly into the war because Iran launched missile and drone attacks at US military assets hosted there and, according to Gulf governments, also struck civilian infrastructure. Oman, which has served as a mediator in US-Iran nuclear talks, expressed alarm at the war and argued that it would not serve US interests or wider peace. The article says Oman was then hit by drone attacks on ports and that its foreign minister later described the conflict as a catastrophe and a serious miscalculation.
Qatar condemned Iranian strikes on its territory, expelled Iranian personnel after an attack on a QatarEnergy facility, and called for dialogue and de-escalation. It has remained in contact with Iranian officials, and the article says Tehran’s foreign minister and its top negotiator visited Doha in May as part of diplomatic efforts.
The UAE condemned Iranian attacks in strong terms and said it had the right to respond. The article also cites a Wall Street Journal report saying the UAE carried out air strikes against Iran during the war with US and Israeli coordination, and that it tightened pressure on Iranian people and businesses at home.
Wider international response
Outside the Gulf, the article says European allies of the US did not condemn the strikes but also refused to join the war and opposed regime change. Russia and China pushed back against the conflict, while countries suffering from oil-price spikes and market volatility called for a diplomatic settlement. Pakistan is presented as an important mediator in those talks.
Key points
- The article says the war on Iran has reached the 100-day mark and contributed to a global energy crisis.
- Oman, Qatar, and the UAE are described as the Gulf states most directly affected by the fighting.
- European allies did not join the war, while Russia and China rejected it more firmly.
- Pakistan is presented as an important mediator in efforts to push the sides toward talks.
- The article frames diplomacy as the main path to preventing more regional spillover.
If the mediation efforts led by Oman, Qatar, and Pakistan keep gaining traction, the conflict could move closer to a diplomatic deal instead of spreading further. That would help reduce attacks on Gulf infrastructure and ease pressure on oil markets and shipping lanes.
If diplomacy keeps dragging, the article suggests the war could keep spilling into nearby states through strikes on military, energy, and civilian targets. Continued instability would also keep oil prices and market volatility elevated and leave the Gulf exposed to more retaliation.
