LONDON, Feb 28 (AFP/Reuters): The US and Israeli strikes on Iran are "totally irresponsible" and risk provoking further escalation, the head of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said Saturday.
The attacks followed weeks of sabre-rattling and a major US military build-up in the Middle East, and saw Tehran retaliate with a barrages of missiles at Gulf states and Israel.
"These attacks are totally irresponsible and risk provoking further escalation as well as increasing the danger of nuclear proliferation and the use of nuclear weapons," ICAN's executive director Melissa Parke said in a statement.
"Military action is not a viable or long-term solution to prevent nuclear proliferation. All military action must stop immediately."
Geneva-based ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its key role in drafting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which took effect in 2021.
The group said the strikes-two days after the United States and Iran held indirect talks in Geneva on Tehran's nuclear programme-could snowball into a broader regional war.
The attacks on Saturday came after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration at Iran's stance in the negotiations.
"The solution to ending both the risk of nuclear proliferation and the use of nuclear weapons is for all countries, including the nuclear-armed states, such as the United States and Israel, to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons," said Parke.
ICAN said international treaties such as the TPNW and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty had provisions for verifiable nuclear disarmament and non-diversion of nuclear material for weapons.
"The TPNW is the best way to ensure nuclear weapons are never used and to remove any incentive for more countries to develop them," said Parke.
African Union calls for
'urgent de-escalation'
The African Union urged cooler heads to prevail on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, warning that conflict could risk harming people on the continent.
The pan-African body's head, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf called "for restraint, urgent de-escalation and sustained dialogue".
"Further escalation risks worsening global instability, with serious implications for energy markets, food security, and economic resilience-particularly in Africa, where conflict and economic pressures remain acute."
EU withdraws Middle
East personnel
The European Union said Saturday it was withdrawing non-essential personnel from the Middle East, describing developments across the region as "perilous", after Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran.
Iran responded by launching retaliatory missile attacks, according to the Israeli military.
"The latest developments across the Middle East are perilous. Iran's regime has killed thousands. Its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, along with support for terror groups, pose a serious threat to global security," the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, wrote on social media.
Protection of civilians and international humanitarian law was a priority, Kallas said, adding she had spoken to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and "other ministers in the region".
"Our consular network is fully engaged in facilitating departures for EU citizens. Non-essential EU personnel are being withdrawn from the region," Kallas said.
The EU's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea remained "on high alert" and stood ready to help keep the maritime corridor open, she added.
Iran must never be allowed
to develop N weapons: UK
Britain said on Saturday that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and it was ready to defend its interests, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.
A government source said Britain had not taken part in the strikes, and that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency response meeting.
Starmer was expected to speak to his French and German counterparts following the meeting, as part of a series of calls with allies.
"Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution," a government spokesperson said in a statement.
UAE, Kuwait respond
to incoming missiles
The United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted Iranian missiles and reserved its right to respond to the attacks, while Kuwait also engaged incoming strikes on Saturday.
"The Ministry of Defence announced that the United Arab Emirates was subjected today to a blatant attack by Iranian ballistic missiles. The UAE's air defences responded with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of the missiles," it said in a statement.
Abu Dhabi said it "reserves its full right to respond" slamming the attacks as "a dangerous escalation".
