PEOPLES of the world east and west of the International Date Line, are on tenterhooks, as military strength drowns the syllables of diplomacy in the Israeli-Iran conflict, with the United States joining Israel in its bomb run.
North Korea, believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads, in its first commentary since the conflict began this month has condemned US strikes on Iran, calling it a violation of the United Nations charter and blaming the tension on the “reckless valor of Israel.”
Saudi Arabia, in an Arabic-language statement is following “with deep concern” the developments and urged the international community to increase its efforts toward a “diplomatic solution that would guarantee an end to this crisis and lead to turning a new leaf toward achieving security and stability around the region.”
The Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that “dangerous tensions experienced by the region will lead to catastrophic escalations on both the regional and international fronts” and urged all sides to “exercise wisdom and self-restraint,” and avoid further escalation that would impact people in a region already beset by conflict and humanitarian crises.
From Oceania, Australia backed the US air strikes, with its prime minister, Anthony Albanese, saying the world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon “and we support action to prevent that.”
He stressed Canberra does not want an escalation of the conflict and a full-scale war but “continues to call for dialogue and for diplomacy.”
The Philippines, some 7,200 plus kilometers away from Iran, has joined in urging countries involved in the conflict to prevent an escalation.
The government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, expressed concern Sunday night, saying “We strongly urge concerned parties to take the path of diplomacy and avoid further escalation of this conflict that could threaten regional and international peace and security.”
Washington said the US strikes “devastated” Iran’s nuclear program with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs dropped onto the mountain above Iran’s Fordow nuclear site.
American leaders have urged Tehran to quit, but Iran vowed to defend itself as it and Israel continue to lob missile attacks against each other.
We rally behind observations that Iran, like the Australian head of government said, had not come to the table, “just as it has repeatedly failed to comply with its international obligations.”
Grimly, Iranian officials are already publicly hinting at pulling out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, designed to monitor and prevent the global spread of nuclear weapons as well as promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which entered into force in 1970.
Understandably, the Middle East crisis impacts on all regions, putting the world population in a state of suspense because of the uncertainty about the future.
