Key Points:
- France calls attacks “unjustified and unacceptable.”
- UK urges Iran to end escalation and engage in talks.
- Germany demands Iran return to negotiating table.
- Merz says Iran must stop “holding world hostage.”
- Leaders call for reopening Strait of Hormuz.
- Canada expresses solidarity with UAE leadership and people.
ISLAMABAD: Western leaders have strongly condemned Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), expressing solidarity with the Gulf state and urging restraint to prevent further escalation in the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the attacks as “unjustified and unacceptable,” reaffirming Paris’s commitment to supporting its regional allies. In a post on X, Macron said France would continue to assist partners in defending their territories and called for a lasting resolution to the conflict.
He emphasised the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for maritime traffic and pushed for a comprehensive agreement addressing regional security concerns, including Iran’s nuclear programme, ballistic capabilities and destabilising activities.
Similarly, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the strikes, stressing that the escalation must come to an end. He said the United Kingdom would continue to support its Gulf partners and urged Iran to engage meaningfully in negotiations to ensure the ceasefire in the Middle East holds and leads to a long-term diplomatic solution.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also criticised Tehran, urging it to return to negotiations.
“The United Arab Emirates has once again been the target of Iranian drone and missile attacks. We strongly condemn these attacks. Our solidarity is with the people of the United Arab Emirates and our partners in the region,” he said.
Merz urged Iran to return to the negotiating table, adding that it must “stop holding the region and the world hostage”.
“The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must end. Tehran must not acquire a nuclear weapon. There must be no further threats or attacks against our partners,” he said.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed solidarity with the UAE leadership and its people following the attacks.
In a statement, he commended efforts to protect civilians and critical infrastructure, while reiterating Ottawa’s call for de-escalation and a renewed focus on diplomacy.
The coordinated responses highlight growing international concern over rising tensions in the Gulf and the potential for wider regional instability.
