European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said developments related to Iran were "greatly concerning," urging all sides to exercise maximum restraint.

LONDON/BRUSSELS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- European leaders reacted with alarm on Saturday to the escalating crisis following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, urging restraint, the protection of civilians, and respect for international law, while moving quickly to coordinate diplomatically and review security measures, including staff reductions, updated travel advisories and possible evacuations.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said developments related to Iran were "greatly concerning," urging all sides to exercise maximum restraint. "We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law," they said in a joint statement.

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned the latest developments across the Middle East were "perilous," said non-essential EU personnel were being withdrawn, and noted that she had spoken with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and other ministers in the region as the EU coordinated with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran carries grave consequences for international peace and security.

In a post on social media platform X, Macron said the ongoing escalation is dangerous for all and must stop. "At this decisive moment, every measure is being taken to ensure the security of our national territory, our citizens, and our interests in the Middle East," he said, adding that France also stands ready to deploy the necessary resources to protect its closest partners, should they request it.

Britain said it "stands ready" to protect its interests in the Middle East and does not want the crisis to expand into a wider regional conflict. A government spokesperson said the country has a range of defensive capabilities in the region that have recently been bolstered.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a video statement that British planes "are in the sky today" in the Middle East as part of "co-ordinated regional defensive operations" to protect British people and interests.

In a joint statement published by 10 Downing Street, France, Germany and Britain said they "did not participate in these strikes" and that they were "in close contact" with international partners, including the United States, Israel and partners in the region, reiterating their commitment to regional stability and the protection of civilian life.

Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said it was deeply alarmed by the strikes and called for full respect of international law, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. Switzerland said its representation in Tehran remained operational and that embassy staffing had been reduced in recent days, with the ambassador on site. It also said its representation in Tel Aviv was operational.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned Saturday's strikes and urged all parties to return to negotiations, saying that attacks would only bring "death, destruction and human misery."

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the U.S. attack reflected a broader shift in world politics and warned that further escalation was possible, describing the wider Middle East situation as fragile. 

Stubb said that the United States was acting "widely outside international law" and "using its hegemony strongly on the world stage."

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the situation "a serious escalation" and urged restraint, protection of civilians and respect for international law, adding that Sweden was monitoring potential impacts on Swedish security and would convene a national security council meeting to assess implications and the safety of Swedish citizens.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said Latvia was carefully monitoring events and maintaining regular contact with its embassies, EU member states and other countries. "Latvian troops deployed on international missions in the Middle East are safe, and the National Armed Forces remain in regular contact with them," she said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned the conflict could have serious economic consequences, particularly for global oil supply, noting that disruptions in production or transport could tighten markets and push up prices. 

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Polish citizens, including embassy staff in Tehran, were safe and that Warsaw was prepared for various scenarios. Poland's embassy in Israel said its consular section would remain closed to visitors until further notice.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said that Meloni would remain in contact with key allies and regional leaders to support any initiative that could help ease tensions.

Portugal's foreign ministry said it was closely monitoring developments. Portuguese analysts, speaking in media interviews, described the situation as one of mounting risk amid limited military actions, warning of the possibility of further escalation while stressing that outcomes could range from renewed negotiations to a more unpredictable confrontation, with regional spillover risks remaining high.■