United States – US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed that his country does not want any escalation with Iran, but will continue to defend Israel after the attack launched by Tehran in response to the targeting of its consulate in Damascus.
Blinken said in a meeting with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Tamim on Monday: “We do not want escalation, but we will continue to defend Israel and protect our crews in the region.”
He added: “I think the weekend proved that Israel does not have to defend itself alone when it is the victim of an assault, an attack.”
Blinken pointed to intense diplomatic activity witnessed “in the past 36 hours with the aim of coordinating a diplomatic response in an attempt to prevent escalation” in the region.
For his part, the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister expressed his “fear that the entire region will slide into a more widespread conflict that threatens international security.”
“We therefore call on all parties to exercise restraint,” he said.
On the other hand, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a warning that “any upcoming Israeli action will be met with ten times the severity.”
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced on Saturday evening that it had carried out a drone and missile operation in response to Israel’s bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
Today, the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Major General Hossein Salami, warned Tel Aviv of the consequences of responding to the Iranian attack.
Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi stressed that any new Israeli adventure will be met with a harsher and more decisive response.
Source: AFP + RT
#Blinken #escalation #Tehran #continue #defend #Israel
2024-04-17 02:03:10