Several Arab nations have fiercely criticized Tehran’s sweeping strikes on US allies in the Middle East after the Trump administration escalated deadly attacks on Iran this week for seven consecutive days.
The Iranian military hit several countries late Thursday through early Friday, including Oman, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar, where a child was wounded by falling shrapnel from an intercepted strike.
In Iraq, an Iranian missile and drone attack killed nine fighters of an Iranian-Kurdish group, according to an official from the group.
Leaders in the region have issued stark condemnations and renewed demands for diplomacy – though US and Iranian officials show no signs of letting up.
Here are some of the statements calling for diplomacy:
- Qatar: The Foreign Ministry in Qatar – whose officials acted as key mediators for discussions between Tehran and Washington earlier this year – urged “a serious return to dialogue and negotiations” and “understandings reached through diplomatic efforts.”
- UAE: The United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister vehemently criticized the Iranian strike in Iraq, warning the attack presents a “flagrant violation of the Republic of Iraq’s and Iraqi Kurdistan’s sovereignty.”
- Jordan: The country’s foreign minister denounced “brutal Iranian attacks” as a “blatant breach of international law” and cautioned against a “dangerous escalation” in the wider region.
- Kuwait: The Kuwaiti foreign minister expressed “strong denunciation of recent reprehensible Iranian aggressions” against Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan, describing the attacks as a “direct threat to the security of their people.”
