Alarm in Gulf states and Europe over fears of widening conflict

Countries in the Middle East and beyond responded with alarm after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as the European Union and the United Nations called for immediate diplomacy, with fears mounting that the war could trigger a wider escalation that could spiral out of control.

- Angelique Chrisafis

Gulf states, which historically have been regional rivals to nearby Iran and critical of its nuclear ambitions, expressed serious concern at the US strikes, amid worries over possible retaliation against US military bases hosted in their own countries.

The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, which had been mediating Iran-US nuclear talks, criticised the US attack and urged de-escalation.

Qatar, which hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East, said yesterday that it feared serious repercussions regionally and internationally. Its foreign ministry said in a statement: "The current dangerous escalation in the region may lead to catastrophic consequences at both the regional and international levels." It said it was calling on all parties "to exercise wisdom, restraint, and to avoid further escalation".

Gulf leaders including the UAE president, the emir of Qatar and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, who had all hosted Donald Trump last month for a tour of the region, discussed the serious implications of the escalation for international and regional security, the UAE state news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, was on a high security alert after the US strikes, expressing "great concern" and stressing the "need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint and avoid escalation".