European countries have stated that Israel has the right to self-defense.

Germany and France commented on the Israeli attack on Iran, considering that "Israel has the right to defend its existence and the security of its citizens," and that it has "the right to defend itself against any attack." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wrote in a post on "X": "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed me this morning by phone of the military measures and objectives," indicating that "following that, I called for a session of the Federal Security Council of the German government, and we discussed the situation." He pointed out that "the German government has repeatedly expressed concern for many years about Iran's highly advanced nuclear program," recalling that "the International Atomic Energy Agency has reiterated that Iran continues to not fulfill its obligations regarding the disclosure of its activities related to the enrichment of nuclear materials for military use. In response, Iran has threatened to accelerate its uranium enrichment process again." Merz affirmed that "Israel has the right to defend its existence and the security of its citizens," calling on both parties to "refrain from taking steps that could lead to further escalation, which could destabilize the entire region." Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Baro stated that "Paris is closely monitoring the developments in the Middle East region, in close coordination with its partners." In a statement on "X," he called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could jeopardize regional stability. He added: "Our priority is the security of our citizens and interests, and we have repeatedly expressed our deep concern about the Iranian nuclear program, including in the recent decision issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency." He emphasized "Israel's right to defend itself against any attack," stressing the need to utilize all diplomatic channels to defuse tensions.