The last escalation of tensions in the Middle East is far from having cooled down. According to various international media, the United States is trying to let Iran know, through diplomatic channels with third countries, that an attack on Israel it would not be in their interest.
This Monday, the Secretary of State, Antony Blinkenwarned his G7 counterparts that Iran could attack Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyahon Iranian soil. The Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukurwas also shot down in Beirut, prompting the armed group to attack northern Israel with drones yesterday, injuring two people.
«All parties must refrain from escalation»Blinken acknowledged at a press conference alongside his Australian counterpart in Washington. «All parties must take steps to ease tensions. Escalation benefits no one. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity.«The current moment is critical for the region and the US was engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to try to cool tempers in the region,» Blinken said. In his remarks, Blinken also called on the parties to «break this cycle» of violence and agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, despite the killing of Haniyah, who was a key figure in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas. «What this is really about is all parties finding a way to reach an agreement, not looking for reasons to delay it or to say no,» Blinken said. While trying to dissuade Iran from a possible attack, US authorities are working with their Israeli counterparts to assess the reaction to a new escalation of tension. In recent hours, The defense chiefs of Israel and the United States have met to bring their positions closer together.
The G7 countries called on Monday to reduce tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible. the growing threat of an «extension of the conflict» in the region as Israel's offensive against the Gaza Strip continues. «We express our deep concern about the heightened level of tension in the Middle East, which threatens to trigger a broader conflict in the region. We urge all parties involved to refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to reduce tensions and to engage constructively in de-escalation. No country or nation will benefit from further escalation in the Middle East,» they said in a statement. 'Reuters' also reported that US President Donald Trump has called on the United States to «refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to reduce tensions and to engage constructively in de-escalation. No country or nation will benefit from further escalation in the Middle East,» they said in a statement. Joe Bidenand the vice president, Kamala Harriswere briefed by their national security team on the situation in the Middle East, including threats posed by Iran and its proxies to Israel. They were also briefed on the attack on Iraqi airbase al-Assad on Monday and there was debate about what the U.S. response should be. At least five U.S. personnel were wounded in the rocket attack, though it was unclear whether the attack was related to the threat from Iran.
IRAN SAYS IT «MUST» PUNISH ISRAEL
For its part, Tehran remains adamant that It is necessary to punish Israel for its attack on Haniyah in Tehran, although the Iranian government has also stressed that does not seek to raise tension in the region. «Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only come by punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence. against the adventurism of the Zionist regime,» he said. Nasser Kanaania spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also called on the US to support Israel. An emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will be held on Wednesday at Iran's request to discuss the killing of Haniyah and Iran's response, according to Kanaani. Senior Iranian officials have been repeating in recent days that Israel «will pay a heavy price» for the attack on Haniyah, who was in Tehran for the inauguration ceremony of Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's new president. The country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameneiassured that It is the «duty» of the Shiite country to punish Israel for this action«The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime has prepared the ground for severe punishment with this action,» he said, while Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, said the country «will defend its territorial integrity, dignity and honour» and make «the invading terrorists regret their cowardly action.»