Reactions from around the world Tehran between hope and despair: "Life no longer makes sense to me"

Since the morning, Israel and the USA have once again been attacking targets in Iran, Tehran is responding with missiles on US bases in the Gulf region. While governments around the world are reacting, voices from the Iranian capital show how differently people in the country are experiencing the new war.

Israel and the USA have been at war with Iran again since the morning. The military escalation is reminiscent of the Twelve-Day War last summer. But this time many things are different. Resignation, fear and hope for change mingle in the metropolis of millions.

Asghar, a 34-year-old employee, remembers his worries last summer, when Israel had already waged war against the country once. "But this morning I follow the news indifferently and without sadness," he says. "Nothing means anything to me anymore. Life no longer has any meaning for me." His despair echoes the ongoing crises and state repression when Iran's security apparatus bloodily crushed mass protests at the beginning of January.

A 30-year-old teacher says: "This morning we got stressed and scared when we heard the news about the attacks, and all the students left school quickly and without permission after hearing the sounds of explosions in the west of Tehran province."

Nilufar, a 24-year-old student, hopes for the death of leading statesmen in Iran and "that people will gain freedom". In the morning, she was able to laugh again after a long time. "I hope that civilians will not be harmed," she adds.

Concerns about a conflagration are growing in London. Following the start of the latest US-Israeli military strikes against Iran, the British government has warned against an escalation of the conflict. Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting of the national crisis team Cobra this morning, as reported by the British news agency PA.

London "does not want to see a further escalation into another regional conflict", PA quoted a government spokesman as saying. Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, which is why efforts to find a negotiated solution have always been supported, the spokesperson continued.

British citizens were also urged to seek shelter indoors and avoid travel. "In light of reports of rocket attacks, British citizens in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates should seek immediate shelter where they are," said an appeal from the British Foreign Office on the social media platform X. "Stay indoors in a safe place, avoid all travel and follow the instructions of local authorities," the message continued. London is also currently advising against travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

At the same time, critical voices have also been raised. The Labour politician Emily Thornberry questioned the legality of the attacks: "I believe there is no legal basis for this measure." The UK should not allow itself to be drawn into the conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron also described the situation as "dangerous for everyone". "The outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran has serious consequences for peace and international security," he said on Platform X. The escalation must be stopped. Macron called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

"The Iranian regime must understand that it has no choice but to enter into serious negotiations" in order to end its nuclear and missile programme as well as "its actions of regional destabilization", wrote the French President. "This is absolutely necessary for the security of all in the Middle East."

The Iranian people must be free to shape their future. "The massacres perpetrated by the Islamic regime discredit it and require that the people be heard again."

Russia and Iran work closely together - above all because of sanctions, which are a burden for both. Following attacks by the USA and Israel, the reaction from Moscow follows suit.

Russia has strongly condemned the attacks and called for an immediate return to diplomacy. The scope and nature of the "military-political and propaganda preparations" left no doubt that it was a "pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent member state of the United Nations", the Foreign Ministry in Moscow announced. There was talk of an "ill-considered step" that violated international law.

The USA and Israel had once again embarked on a dangerous adventure that was rapidly bringing the region closer to a humanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe.

Moscow accused both countries of wanting to remove the leadership of a state they did not like. The responsibility for the negative consequences of this "man-made crisis", including an unpredictable chain reaction and spiral of violence, lies entirely with them, it said.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, on the other hand, clearly sided with the USA and Israel. Canada supports Washington in preventing "Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon" and continuing to threaten international peace. Iran is the "main source of instability and terror in the entire Middle East".

Israel has the right to defend itself. At the same time, Carney emphasized that his country stands by the Iranian people "in their long and courageous struggle against the repressive regime".

The Gulf state of Oman, most recently a mediator between Washington and Tehran, reacted with disappointment. Foreign Minister Badr al-Bussaidi wrote that he was "dismayed" because active and serious negotiations had once again been undermined. The attacks served neither peace nor the interests of the USA.

His appeal is clear: Pray for the innocent people who are now suffering. And to Washington: "This is not our war."

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