section_path: International reaction and responses
section_name: International reaction and responses
paragraph_text: International reaction and responses
  
  In Iran, after the initial wave of Israeli strikes, various authorities warned of a retaliation to follow. There were also local support for retaliation and trepidation as to what would follow. Diasporic figures were generally continuing their support for opposition to the government. Iran also claimed that Pakistan would use its nuclear weapons against Israel, should they be used on Iran. Pakistan denied this.
  
  In Israel, Netanyahu said: "We are at a decisive moment in Israel's history" and "We are defending the free world from the terrorism and barbarism that Iran fosters and exports across the globe" and that the attacks would continue for "as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us." and that Israel's war was against the Iranian form of government and not against the Iranian people. "Israel's fight is not against the Iranian people. Netanyahu stated "Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you. The people of Iran and the people of Israel have been friends since the time of Cyrus the Great."
  
  Defense Minister Israel Katz said, in response to Iran's initial attacks that it had crossed red lines by targeting civilians, and added that they will pay very heavy prices for that. Katz warned that "Tehran will burn" if Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated that the Israeli Army is "mobilizing tens of thousands of soldiers and preparing across all borders," as he warned that "anyone who tries to challenge us will pay a heavy price" and that "it was at point of no return". Most Israelis supported Israeli strikes on Iran.
  
  Israel's attacks prompted Reza Pahlavi and other diasporic Iranian opposition figures to call for the overthrow of the Iranian government. Some leaders of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement condemned the attacks, which they said did not help the Iranian opposition. Sepideh Qolian said that war will not bring democracy. Shirin Ebadi, Narges Mohammadi and Jafar Panahi called for an end to the war and condemned the attacks on civilians by both Israel and Iran. Mehrangiz Kar said: "People are angry, and they hate the Islamic Republic. But they now probably hate Mr. Netanyahu and his military policies even more." The co-leader (the other being Massoud Rajavi) of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) Maryam Rajavi called on the Iranian people to overthrow the government, saying that a solution "cannot be imposed from above" and warned Israel and the United States against negotiating with Khamenei.
  
  In the United States, Trump said that he told Netanyahu to continue Israel's attack. Trump also said the United States does not want a long term war, only to not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Trump praised the initial attacks and ordered support to Israel. He also threatened Iran's head of state would be an easy target for assassination. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had initially stated that Israel had "acted independently," but that was later contradicted by Trump as having known about it. The US also moved jets and the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the region. Most Americans oppose of a US military intervention in the war. Some supporters of Trump in the United States have criticized Trump's support for Israeli strikes against Iran, and the possible involvement of the United States in the war. In a poll of Trump voters, 53% said the U.S. should not get involved in the Iran–Israel conflict.
  
  On 19 June 2025, the White House said that Trump would decide "within two weeks" whether to join Israel's war against Iran. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have spoken by phone several times since the start of the Israeli strikes on Iran. Various US states issued travel warnings and evacuations.
  
  On 16 June 2025, G7 leaders issued a statement at the 2025 G7 summit in Canada that read: "We affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel. Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror." UK prime minister Keir Starmer convened the national emergencies committee (COBRA) on 18 June and said that "Iran must never have a nuclear weapon" and also that the UK prefers a "diplomatic approach".
  
  In Germany, German chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Israel's strikes and stated that Israel is "doing the dirty work for us" in Iran. He praised the attack for weakening "Tehran's regime" and destroying nuclear facilities. Merz highlighted that Israel's actions helped disrupt global terrorism and minimized future threats, adding that Tehran's leadership has brought "death and destruction to the world through attacks, murder, and manslaughter". He continued, stating that the attack on Israel by the Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas on 7 October 2023, "could never have occurred without the regime in Tehran." The Iranian government described the comments by Merz as "shameful", and summoned the German ambassador in response.
  
  Multiple prominent international organizations, such as the United Nations, condemned the attacks on both countries and called for a restraint and Israel to de-escalate. Several countries, such as Turkey, Russia and China, condemned the Israeli attack on Iran and called for de-escalation. Donald Trump rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin 's offer to mediate a ceasefire in the Iran–Israel war, telling him to focus on mediating a ceasefire in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
  
  On 20 June, Maersk Line, a Danish international container shipping company announced that it has suspended shipping to the port of Haifa amid the Iran-Israel war.