As American and Israeli war planes finished their first attacks against Iran over the weekend, carefully worded statements from Western allies started to roll out.

Iran “must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” said a spokesperson for the British government. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he shared the U.S.’s interest in ending “this regime’s terror.” French President Emmanuel Macron insisted on diplomacy.

All said they weren’t involved in military action, but carefully skirted judgment of the legality of U.S. actions. No loud applause, no condemnation. Just “whispered warnings” about what it could spark, said French newspaper Le Monde.

Merz said it wasn’t his place to “lecture” U.S. President Donald Trump.