Jessica Durando

USA TODAY

The world shuddered at news of a seismic shift in European affairs after voters in the United Kingdom decided Thursday to leave the European Union.

Global markets were the first to react with stocks falling in Asia and Europe. Japan's Nikkei 225 index recorded its steepest decline in 16 years. U.S. stocks followed with large declines. The British pound and euro lost value and investors sought refuge in gold.

The reactions from world leaders was mixed. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow favors economic stability in reaction to the vote.

Russian politician and businessman Boris Titov heralded the vote as Europe shaking off the influence of the United States.

"It's not long until a united eurasia -- in about 10 years," Titov wrote. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, suggested that an EU without Britain might result in an easing of sanctions against Russia.

Japan's finance minister, Taro Aso, told reporters he was "extremely worried" about the global economy in the wake of the vote.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took note of the sharp reaction in world markets, while cautioning it would take "years" for Britain to actually leave the EU "There will be a degree of uncertainty for some time," Turnbull said.

In Iran, a senior commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri, called the Brexit victory the result of "years of colonialism and crimes against humanity," Associated Press reported. Hamid Aboutalebi, a spokesman for President Hassan Rouhani, said the vote would lead to eventual collapse of the EU.

Pope Francis said the vote reflects the will of electorate and leaves "a great responsibility on all of us to guarantee the well-being of the people of the United Kingdom," according to the AP. He also called for taking "responsibility for the well-being and coexistence of the entire European community."