'Unlawful': Growing calls for de-escalation as US-Israeli strikes in Iran continue

Multiple countries and international organizations continued to condemn the unilateral attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, urged a de-escalation of regional tensions and called for diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

The joint US-Israeli airstrikes, followed by retaliatory missile launches from Iran, entered their fourth day on Thursday. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on all sides, with at least 555 people killed in Iran, 10 in Israel, and six US service members.

Call for immediate cessation of hostilities

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for de-escalation, immediate cessation of hostilities, and genuine dialogue and negotiations in the Middle East, in line with the UN Charter, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing on Monday.

"What is needed now in the region more than anything is a way out," he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the urgent priority in the current Middle East situation is to immediately halt military operations and prevent further spillover of the conflict in a phone call with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi on Monday, 

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Monday called for an urgent de-escalation of regional tensions to prevent the Middle East from sliding into "total chaos" during separate phone calls with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq.

'Unlawful' attack

Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Monday denounced recent strikes by the US and Israel against Iran, calling them a violation of international law.

"The attack carried out by the US and Israel against our neighbor Iran is unlawful, unjust, lacks legal legitimacy and violates international law," AK Party spokesperson Omer Celik said in a statement.

Celik criticized the timing of the strikes, noting they occurred while nuclear negotiations were still ongoing, signaling a departure from diplomacy and dialogue.

"Such interventions against a UN member state have no legal basis," he added.

The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) said in a statement on Monday that they consider the use of force unacceptable, and maintain that the only way to resolve the current conflict lies in dialogue, mutual respect and consideration for the legitimate concerns of all parties based on international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the unprovoked US-Israeli acts of armed aggression against a sovereign United Nations member state violate the fundamental principles of international law in a phone call with the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday.

Differences among western allies

Portugal's government faces growing criticism over US military operations at Lajes Air Base in the Azores following attacks on Iran, with opposition parties and experts questioning whether proper authorization was obtained.

Andre Franqueira Rodrigues, Socialist Party member of the European Parliament and Defense Committee member, criticized Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel's handling of the issue. He said the minister's approach "embarrasses us all" and grants Portugal "a subordination that weakens our negotiating position and offends the institutional and sovereign dignity" of the country.

The political party Left Bloc in the Azores "vehemently" condemned the US use of Lajes Base for Iran-related operations, criticizing "total submission" to American interests.

The Socialist Party requested that parliament summon the foreign minister to clarify the legal framework for recent US force movements at Lajes Base.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Spain would not allow its military bases, which are jointly operated by the US and Spain but under Spanish sovereignty, to be used for attacks on Iran, which Spain has condemned, calling it "an unjustified and dangerous military intervention that is outside of international law."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday said NATO itself would not be involved. "There are absolutely no plans whatever for NATO to get dragged into this or being part of it, other than individual allies doing what they can to enable what the Americans are doing together with Israel," Rutte said.

(With input from agencies)