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The World Woke Up to a Nightmare — Expanded Account

The world woke up to a nightmare that would reshape global geopolitics and shatter long-held assumptions about peace, power, and international stability. In a late-night address that reverberated across every continent, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had carried out “very successful” strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities — including the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites. What was portrayed by Washington as a surgical blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions instantly ignited a maelstrom of praise, condemnation, fear, and uncertainty around the globe.

The Announcement That Split the World

From the moment the announcement was made, the international community was fractured. In the United States, many conservative leaders and allies in Congress praised the operation as decisive and necessary to curb what they described as a dangerous nuclear threat. Supporters argued that eliminating Iran’s capacity to pursue a bomb would stabilize the Middle East and deny hostile actors the ability to trigger catastrophic conflict. Meanwhile, critics — including international legal experts and foreign governments — blasted the strikes as reckless, dangerous, and a violation of international law.

In Iran, the reaction was predictably fierce and defiant. Iranian officials condemned the strikes as an egregious breach of sovereignty and a direct assault on their nation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the attacks “outrageous” and warned that Tehran “reserves all options” for self-defense — a phrase laden with implications for future retaliation.

A Firework of Global Reactions

The reaction among world powers was no less dramatic:

Russia denounced the U.S. strikes as “irresponsible” and a breach of international law, emphasizing that such military action against a sovereign state could destabilize the entire region.

South Africa expressed deep anxiety over the escalation, urging all parties to return to diplomatic channels and allow the United Nations to guide resolution efforts.

United Nations officials and leaders from Europe and Asia called for restraint, emphasizing that military escalation threatens global security and undermines international peace efforts.

Regional actors, including several Arab nations and Southeast governments, issued mixed responses, with some condemning the violence and others expressing cautious support for reducing nuclear proliferation risks.

This outpouring of global opinion demonstrated just how sharply divided the world had become almost overnight.

Beyond the Headlines: Deep-seated Anxiety