ASEAN says US-Israel attacks on Iran risk wider Middle East war

In a joint statement, the 11-member bloc said it was “seriously concerned” by the escalation following strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s subsequent retaliatory attacks across the region.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said the exchange of attacks had already spread beyond Iran and Israel, with Iran striking targets in several countries including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

The widening confrontation, ASEAN warned, posed “a grave threat to the lives and safety of civilians” and endangered both regional and global stability.

“We call on all countries to respect international law, including the Charter of the United Nations,” the foreign ministers said.

In the statement, the ministers also underscored that the escalation came while diplomatic efforts were still underway, pointing to mediation initiatives led by Oman that were aimed at advancing a negotiated solution.

ASEAN described the timing of the attacks as “particularly regrettable,” highlighting concerns that military action had derailed ongoing attempts to defuse tensions.

The bloc called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and urged all parties to exercise “utmost self-restraint” to prevent further escalation.

It also warned against actions that could worsen the crisis and called on all sides to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

The ministers reaffirmed that all states must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations and resolve disputes through peaceful means in line with international law and the UN Charter.

Beyond the geopolitical fallout, ASEAN said member states were closely coordinating to assist citizens caught in the crisis.

The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to providing emergency assistance to ASEAN nationals in the Middle East, including through coordinated consular support under existing regional guidelines for crisis situations.