Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan reacts to Israeli airstrikes on Iran

In the early hours of June 13, Uzbekistan called on the conflicting parties to show restraint following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued an official statement expressing its position.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan expresses deep concern over the Israeli military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in the loss of life and the escalation of tensions in the Middle East," the statement read.

Official Tashkent urged all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint, cease hostilities immediately, and resolve the conflict through political and diplomatic means.

"The further escalation of this already serious situation, which could lead to a large-scale conflict, is deeply worrying," the ministry added.

Uzbekistan reaffirmed its commitment to promoting regional stability and declared its readiness to assist in efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict.

Earlier, Israel announced that it had launched a preemptive strike targeting Iran’s nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation was aimed at damaging Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile production facilities, and military capabilities.

The attack reportedly killed Major General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to Iranian state news agencies IRNA and Tasnim, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Fereydoun Abbasi, and the president of the Islamic Azad University, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, also lost their lives.

Iranian state television, IRIB, reported several explosions at critical nuclear facilities in Natanz.

The Iranian government responded by vowing harsh retaliation for the Israeli strikes, which resulted in the deaths of civilians, including scientists and military personnel.

In light of the situation, Uzbek embassies in both Iran and Israel issued warnings to citizens, urging them to take strict precautions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan also issued a related appeal to its citizens.