NATO said on Saturday it was “closely following developments in Iran and the region”, as China called for an immediate ceasefire and urged that Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity be respected amid a fast-moving escalation triggered by joint US–Israel strikes and Iranian retaliation across the Gulf.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart issued the alliance’s brief comment as governments assessed the risk of wider conflict following coordinated US–Israeli airstrikes on Iran earlier on 28 February and subsequent Iranian missile and drone attacks against US bases and other regional targets, according to reports.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had “deep concerns” about developments and urged all sides to avoid further escalation and resume dialogue. In its statement, Beijing said Iran’s “national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected”, while warning that rising tensions would harm regional stability.
The statements from NATO and China came as international leaders and diplomats moved to contain the fallout from an operation the US president, Donald Trump, described as the start of “major combat operations”, in remarks reported by the Associated Press. The strikes, carried out in coordination with Israel, were presented by the White House as a response to Iran’s nuclear advances, the AP reported.
Iran responded with missile and drone strikes on US bases and other targets in the region, including sites in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, according to the AP. Tehran has framed its actions as a defence of national sovereignty, while regional governments have condemned strikes on their territory in public statements and media reports.
European leaders sought to distance themselves from the initial strikes while urging de-escalation. In a joint statement, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany said they did not participate in the operation and called for a return to negotiations, while condemning Iranian attacks on regional countries. The UK government said it was in contact with partners and allies as the situation evolved.
In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency meeting of the government’s Cobra committee following the strikes and Iran’s response, British media reported. UK officials have indicated Britain did not take part in the strikes and that British bases were not used in the operation, according to reports.
The NATO statement did not indicate any change in the alliance’s military posture or any move towards collective defence measures, and did not suggest a direct NATO operational role. Its language was limited to monitoring, as allies track threats to personnel, facilities and shipping routes linked to the crisis.
The conflict has already disrupted civilian aviation, with airspace restrictions and flight cancellations reported across parts of the Middle East. Markets and governments have been watching for signs of impact on energy infrastructure and maritime transit routes, given the region’s role in global oil and gas supply.
The scale of damage inside Iran and across affected bases and sites in the Gulf remained unclear in early reporting, including the full extent of casualties. News agencies have cited reports of civilian deaths, including at least one incident involving a school, though details were still being verified.
China’s call for an immediate ceasefire placed it among the most explicit major-power appeals for a halt to hostilities issued so far on Saturday. Beijing also reiterated its position that pressure and threats would worsen tensions, urging renewed diplomacy.
Further statements were expected from capitals in Europe and the Middle East as diplomats assessed the likelihood of additional strikes and counterstrikes, and as governments reviewed security for forces and citizens across the region. NATO’s Hart said only that the alliance was “closely following” the situation, underscoring the uncertainty over whether the crisis will remain contained or broaden further in the coming hours and days.