Prime Minister’s introduction at press conference on Israel’s attack on Iran

Last night, Israel carried out a major military attack in and against Iran. The full extent of the attack is not yet known, but the following is clear:

• there was an attack on Natanz Nuclear Facility, south of Tehran;
• high-ranking personnel in the Iranian Armed Forces and personnel affiliated with the Iranian nuclear programme have been killed;
• strikes carried out in urban areas have affected civilians.

We are hearing from Israel that the operations may continue over the coming days.

This is a very serious development. Norway condemns the escalation of armed conflict in the region.

This is a major escalation.

And there is a risk of further escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Last night’s actions were more comprehensive and more serious than those we have previously seen in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

The situation will evolve as each hour passes. Iran has already responded by attacking targets inside Israel with drones, but we do not yet know the impacts this has had.

There is a real danger that the situation could escalate in different ways. There are several groups that could be activated, and that could lead to attacks on both civilian and military targets.

Norway joins other countries in calling on the parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid a major war in the region and help to reduce tensions. The path forward is difficult. It is important to stress the need to end the spiral of violence. Here, a great deal of responsibility rests on both Israel and Iran, as well as on all parties exerting influence on other countries in the region.

Although Iran’s military capabilities have been weakened by the attacks of the past six months, its capacity remains substantial.

Last October the country demonstrated that it has the ability to attack Israel with ballistic missiles, among other things. While most of the missiles were shot down by the Israeli air defence system, in cooperation with other countries, some of the missiles made it through.

The way the US chooses to react to this conflict will be important.

Escalation

What we do know is that there is a real danger of escalation. The attack poses a threat to global security. It is taking place in a region that is important to the global economy, that contains major arteries for energy transport, and it could have serious ramifications.

It is deeply regrettable, and important to point out, that the attack undermines the ongoing nuclear talks between the US and Iran aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

There were important meetings scheduled to be held in Oman this coming Sunday. The preparation for the coming talks was one of the things the Iranian Foreign Minister and I discussed in the conversation we had on Wednesday evening in Oslo.

We have also maintained close contact with the US in the lead-up to the talks. It is our clear impression that both parties have been working seriously to create a framework that would ensure that the nuclear programme does not lead to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

As I understand it, President Trump has been clear that he wants a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue. This has also been the message communicated to us in our recent discussions with the US authorities.

The US has made it clear that it has no involvement in the attack.

Norway’s position is in line with the broad international consensus that Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.

We believe it is crucial to use all diplomatic channels, not military means, to prevent this from happening.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must be given a key role in these efforts. I have been in close contact with its Director General, Rafael Grossi, right up to today.

How this will affect Norway and Norwegian interests

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in close contact with our embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv throughout the night.

There is no indication that any Norwegian citizens have been affected. Some 50 Norwegian citizens have registered themselves as being in Iran, while 35 have registered themselves as being in Israel.

However, as registration in the system is voluntary, the actual number of Norwegian citizens present in the two countries could be higher.

We have sent information about the situation to Norwegian citizens registered as being in Israel, Palestine and Iran. I would like to reiterate the current travel warnings for Israel and Iran:

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all non-essential travel to Israel.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Iran.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assess the need to update the travel warnings for the region on an ongoing basis.

This clearly communicates that we consider the security situation to be very serious.

Norwegian citizens who are still considering travelling to these countries should contact their insurance companies to determine whether their travel insurance will be valid.

They must also be aware that the Norwegian authorities will have limited ability to provide assistance in the event anything happens.

In closing, I would like to point out that Norway is a maritime actor. Our vessels are carrying energy across the seas. Further escalation of the situation could pose a threat to Norwegian interests in the region. The safety of Norwegian citizens and Norwegian personnel is paramount for us.

We will maintain close contact with the industry. We know that the Norwegian shipping industry has a well-established international network for monitoring the situation. In this context, we will have ongoing contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association.