World leaders call for tension escalation and dialogue between the US and Iran

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What would a war between Iran and the United States be like? 2:04

(CNN) - World leaders rejected the military escalation between the United States and Iran, after the latter launched more than a dozen missiles to two Iraqi bases where there are US troops present in what appears to be retaliation for the US air attack That killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last week, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The international community has called for the de-escalation of tensions and for dialogue between the parties.

• In case of a confrontation, how does the US and Iranian military might compare?
• Analysis: Trump's reaction to the Iranian attack on bases with US troops in Iraq

United Kingdom

The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Dominic Raab, condemned the Iranian attack against the military bases in the Iraqi provinces of Anbar and Erbil, and urged Iran on Wednesday to urgently de-escalate tensions in the region.

"We condemn this attack against the Iraqi military bases that house the coalition forces, including the British," Raab said in a statement issued by the UK Foreign Office.

"We are concerned about the reports of casualties and the use of ballistic missiles," the foreign minister added. US and Iraqi sources told CNN that, at this time, victims are not known as a result of the attacks.

According to a statement issued by the Iraqi Army, Iraq was attacked by 22 missiles, 17 of which reached Al-Asad air base, in Anbar province, in the west of the country. Five missiles hit Erbil province in northern Iraq, according to the statement.

"We urge Iran not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks, and instead seek an urgent progressive reduction," the Foreign Secretary added, warning that a war in the Middle East "would only benefit Daesh [ISIS]" and Other terrorist organizations.

France

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Iranian attacks and requested that the cycle of violence be stopped.

"France would like to underline again the importance of continuing the fight against the Islamic State, respecting the sovereignty of Iraq," said a statement from the French Foreign Ministry.

“The priority is the scaling. The cycle of violence must stop, ”says the statement.

Germany

The German Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks and asked Iran to “refrain” from an escalation of the conflict, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter:

“We condemn the attack with Iranian missiles against the Iraqi military bases where the coalition forces are also stationed. We call on Iran to refrain from any step that may lead to further escalation. We have been in contact with all parties for the past few days and we are working to help reduce the situation. We call on all parties to exercise calm and moderation. ”

Maas expressed his condolences for the victims of the accident of a Ukrainian plane on Wednesday. The airline said three Germans died in the accident.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic accident of flight PS752, which was headed from Tehran to Kiev. In this difficult time, our thoughts are with the friends and family of the victims. ”

European Union asks for dialogue

The use of weapons "must stop now" to reduce tensions and "give room for dialogue" on the situation in Iran and Iraq, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday during a joint press conference with the head of Foreign Affairs of the community bloc, Josep Borrell.

“The current crisis affects not only the region, but all of us. The use of weapons must now stop to make room for dialogue, ”said Von der Leyen, adding that leaders are“ called to do everything possible to rekindle the talks ”about the situation in the Middle East.

Speaking with Von der Leyen, the head of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, Josep Borrell, said that recent events in Iran, Iraq and the region as a whole are "extremely worrying," and warned that an escalation in violence could jeopardize the work of the anti-ISIS coalition.

"The latest rocket attacks against air bases in Iraq, used by US and coalition forces, including European forces, are another example of escalation and further confrontation," said Borrell.

"The current situation puts the efforts of recent years at risk and also has implications for the important work of the anti-Daesh coalition (ISIS)," he added.

Borrell also reiterated the European Union's commitment to safeguard the nuclear agreement with Iran, confirming that it invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Brussels to discuss the current situation.

“We have been talking with colleagues about the situation of JCPOA, which is more important today than ever. I have invited the Iranian Foreign Minister to go through Brussels ... maybe we will have a meeting soon, ”said Borrell.

"I am in contact with all participants as coordinator to maintain the unity of the group ... and the importance of full implementation [of the agreement] of all parties," he added.

Borrell, head of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, also confirmed that he will convene a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the bloc, on Friday, to discuss how the European Union can "help stabilize" the situation in the region.

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday at a press conference that all Australian diplomats and military personnel in Iraq are safe.

Morrison said the government is closely monitoring the events that are taking place and that the National Security Committee has been monitoring the events in the region for the past few days.

In a separate statement, the prime minister said he is in frequent contact with the head of the Defense Force and the ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs. Morrison said he has ordered the head of the Defense Force to take "whatever action is necessary to protect and defend our ADF (Australian Defense Forces) and diplomatic personnel and keep Australians safe."

The latest information on the Australian Department of Defense website says that approximately 300 ADF people are located at a base northwest of Baghdad, as well as approximately 150 others in the Middle East region to support an international effort to combat ISIS

The prime minister of the Kurdistan region speaks with Pompeo

Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, spoke with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday morning, local time, after the Iranian missile attack.

Barzani said in a tweet: “In my phone call this morning with @SecPompeo, we discussed current developments in Iraq. I also suggested ways to reduce the escalation and contain the situation. ”

Previously, the State Department had confirmed the conversation between Barzani and Pompeo.

Canada

Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the Defense Staff of the Armed Forces of Canada (CAF), said all his personnel are safe after the missile attacks in Iraq.

“CAF families: I can assure you that all deployed CAF personnel are safe and attentive to the next missile attacks in Iraq. We keep watching. ”

South Korea

South Korea said it was "receiving reports in real time and closely following the current situation" in Iran.

In a statement, the Blue House spokesman said "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is working closely with local authorities focusing on the safety of the citizens of South Korea."

Separately, MOFA also said its task force team is "working on estimating damage and / or details" in relation to Iran's attack.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry added that on Tuesday it held a meeting with officials from eleven companies and the International Construction Information Service on the situation in Iraq. He added that South Korean companies with employees in Iraq are increasing security and reviewing their emergency escape plans.

They also advised employees to refrain from leaving their complexes in Iraq.

The South Korean government says it will maintain close communication with businesses and citizens in Iraq to ensure their safety.

Currently, there are approximately 1,570 South Korean citizens in Iraq.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters asked in a statement, after the attacks on Iraqi military bases on Wednesday, "moderation and reduced escalation, and for diplomacy to take action."

"The Government is actively working with our partners through military and diplomatic channels, and we continue to maintain the security situation under close review, including the implications for our staff," Peters said.

"It is important to keep in mind that the missile attacks were not aimed at Camp Taji and the Government has been informed that all New Zealand personnel are as safe as they can be in these circumstances."

Japan urges easing tensions between the parties

Tokyo urged "all parties involved to exhaust diplomatic efforts to ease tensions" following Iran's attack on US military bases in Iraq.

The chief secretary of the country's cabinet, Yoshihide Suga, told the media that "Japan is deeply concerned about the growing tensions in the Middle East region" and added that "further escalation should be avoided." He also confirmed that there was a meeting of the National Security Council in which the Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Chief Cabinet Secretary participated on the situation in the Middle East.

On the planned trip to the region of the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, Suga said that the Government will analyze the situation in development and decide whether the trip to be made this month will continue as planned. However, the plan to send a Self-Defense Force ship and two planes to the Middle East will continue in progress for the time being while assessing the development of the situation, Suga said.

The mission aims to gather information to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships from Japan on a key oil shipping route.

It will take place in open waters in the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden and the north of the Arabian Sea.

The Gulf of Oman was where a Japanese tanker was attacked, in June of this year.

Philippines orders its citizens to leave Iraq

The Philippine government raised its alert level to the highest level - Alert Level 4 - for Iraq, according to the state-run Philippines News Agency (PNA).

The alert calls for the mandatory repatriation of its citizens, but presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday that the government’s goal was to repatriate citizens, but it would be impossible to impose the measure.

CNN Philippines reported that Filipino military officials are "considering deploying C-130 planes and taking advantage of cruise services" and that the country's Coast Guard is sailing on a patrol to Oman or Dubai to carry out repatriation missions.

On the Facebook page of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, a photo of the embassy was published, dated January 7, saying that the Government was prepared to repatriate any Filipino who could be affected by the ongoing crisis. The statement also advises those who are there to remain vigilant and exercise caution at all times.

Pakistan wants the scaling of the US conflict - Iran

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he believes Iran's Foreign Minister "does not want the escalation to increase further" and is showing moderation "by being prudent in his comments," according to a statement issued on Wednesday after the Iranian rocket attack against US military bases in Iraq.

"I think the United States must also be equally careful about the situation," Qureshi said in the statement. The official added that he spoke with several foreign ministers, including the Qatari foreign minister, who visited Iran after the United States killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani last week.

Qureshi's statement continued: “Any escalation or war in this region will affect regional peace and global trade. Given that the situation remains fluid, it would be irresponsible for me to say something at this time. ”

Qureshi added that Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran, “wants the escalation not to grow and that this region is not involved in a war. Pakistan believes that there should be peace and that this situation should be resolved through dialogue and with the help of the UN Security Council and the friendly nations of Iran and the United States. ”

Last Wednesday, Pakistan urged its citizens to take "maximum caution" if they traveled to Iraq.

Norway

A spokesman for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense said no Norwegian soldiers were killed or injured in the missile attacks in Iraq.

Brynjar Stordal, spokesman for the Norwegian joint headquarters, said in a statement to CNN: "We can confirm that no Norwegian soldier was killed or injured in the missile attacks in Iraq."

China urges the parties to "exercise restraint" in the Middle East

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the current situation in the Middle East is "complex and sensitive" and that China is closely monitoring the events after the Iranian rocket attack on US bases in Iraq.

China called on the relevant parties to "exercise restraint" and "resolve their disagreements and disputes through dialogue and negotiations based on mutual respect," Geng said in his daily briefing on Wednesday.

He added that the worsening situation in the Gulf does not interest everyone and that China is willing to "play a responsible role in reducing tensions."

Geng was also asked if China ordered Chinese airlines to avoid flying over Iran and Iraq. The official said the relevant authorities are closely monitoring the situation, but they referred journalists to the civil aviation authority.

Lithuania

None of the Lithuanian troops was damaged in the Iranian missile attack on the bases of Al-Asad and Erbil, with the presence of US troops, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

"After the night bombing, when missiles launched from Iran attacked the bases of the US-led coalition, the Lithuanian command received reports from Lithuanian soldiers that they are safe," the Ministry said in a press release.

NATO

"We monitored the situation closely as it developed and the secretary general contacted the US authorities," a NATO official told the CNN about the missile attacks in Iraq.

Israel: "Anyone who tries to attack us will suffer the most devastating blow"

Benjamin Netanyahu issued an unequivocal warning to Iran on Wednesday of not attacking Israel, and said he spoke for many of Israel's neighbors by reiterating his strong support for the operation in which the Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani died, a man who the first Israeli minister described as the "chief terrorist" of Iran.

Addressing a conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, just a few hours after Iran's attack, and amid new Iranian threats to attack Israeli cities, the Israeli prime minister said: “Anyone who tries to attack us will suffer the most devastating blow "

Netanyahu continued: “Qassem Soleimani was responsible for the death of countless people, destabilized many countries for decades, and was planning much worse things. President Trump must be congratulated for acting boldly and resolutely against this chief terrorist, who was the architect and driver of Iran's carnage and terror campaign throughout the Middle East and the world. What I am saying here openly today, and what I have said in recent days, is what many, many leaders in the Middle East think. ”

Netanyahu added that Israel is "completely" on the part of the United States. and that this "has no better friend than Israel."

EASA

The European Union Air Safety Agency, EASA, said it is "monitoring the situation in Iraq and the Middle East."

“EASA is monitoring the situation in Iraq and the Middle East and is aware of the FAA's decision to ban overflights for US carriers and codeshare. Any European decision to restrict the use of airspace in the region will be coordinated with the European Commission and the Member States of the European Union, ”says the statement.