Spanish king calls for 'restraint' in Middle East amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran

ISTANBUL

Spain's King Felipe VI called for "restraint" in the Middle East on Thursday amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory actions across the region.

During a speech at the Royal Palace, he called for "restraint in the use of force, maximum respect for the life and safety of the civilian population and the search for diplomatic solutions, and also for the guarantee of freedoms and Human Rights in the face of repression."

He also expressed "enormous concern" over "the critical and especially dangerous situation unfolding" in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"The risk to which such a large and strategically important region is subjected moves us to convey our deepest solidarity to the countries that are suffering the serious collateral damage of the conflict," he noted.

He further called for a Europe "with greater strategic sovereignty which moves towards a genuine Europe of security and defense, even more firmly rooted in solidarity and responsibility, even more open and prosperous, even more capable of clearly asserting its voice in the world and preserving the inalienable principles that make up our common identity."

Regional tensions have escalated due to the US and Israeli attacks on Iran that started on Feb. 28.

Iran has since launched retaliatory attacks against Israel and regional countries, including those in the Gulf that host US bases.