Iran response: Blinken wants to “break the cycle of violence” with Gaza ceasefire amid international efforts to avoid escalation in the region

On Monday afternoon, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged the parties to the conflict in the Middle East to break “the vicious cycle” of violence by concluding a cease-fire agreement in Gaza.

Blinken called for the escalation to be contained, as Iran prepares for a possible strike against Israel.

This came at a press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, where Blinken stressed that “escalation is not in anyone’s interest, and will only lead to conflict and more violence and insecurity” encouragement.”

Blinken made announcements Monday in which he urged all concerned parties to avoid an increase.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters: “It is important that all parties take steps in the coming days to de-escalate and calm tensions.” “

In response to a question about whether Iran had the right to respond, Miller said that an Iranian attack would not serve “the interests of the Iranian people or the region in general.”

Miller said, “The message we always send is: Don’t take this step. You don’t have to.

Several international parties also called on Monday to avoid an escalation in the region after the assassination of the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, at a time when Iran denied its right to respond to Israel, which it “accuses ” of. performing the operation.

Earlier, Israel confirmed its readiness “offensively and defensively” if Iran launched an attack, while the United States strengthened its military deployment in the region to protect Israel.

On Monday, the Israeli army announced that the Commander of the US Military Command in the Middle East (CENTCOM), General Michael Corella, came to Israel to assess the security situation.

On the other hand, the Russian ambassador and former Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu arrived in the capital of Iran, Tehran, to hold talks with senior leaders in Iran, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the Russian Interfax news agency.

Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that Israel was aiming for regional and international peace and security when it assassinated Haniyeh, as the Netanyahu government believes that igniting the conflict is the only way. out to stay in power.

Bagheri made these statements at a meeting with ambassadors of foreign countries in Tehran, where he told them about Iran’s position on Haniyeh’s murder, accusing the Israeli government of being behind this act, according to Iran’s official news agency.

An Iranian official criticized the UN Security Council for not issuing a resolution against Israel regarding Haniyeh’s murder.

Bagheri said that the constant support that Israel receives from the United States, the United Kingdom and France is one of the main reasons behind the ineffectiveness of the UN Security Council regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the past ten years.

Meanwhile, the Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq came under missile attacks on Monday night, according to what was reported by the Reuters news agency.

Security sources said two Katyusha rockets were fired at Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base, confirming that several American soldiers were injured in the attack on the Iraqi military base, indicating that this “initial information” could change, as reported. by Reuters.

Ain al-Asad Air Base hosts American forces.

On Monday morning, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani and US Secretary of State Blinken discussed recent regional and international developments over the phone.

Al-Sudani told Blinken that “preventing an escalation in the region depends only on stopping the attack against Gaza and preventing its spread to Lebanon, preventing and restraining Netanyahu and his government, and preventing his forced the Zionist occupation authorities from attacking the countries of the region,” according to what was reported by the official Iraqi News Agency.

Al-Sudani urged Blinken to stop Israel’s violations of international law and state sovereignty and its efforts to escalate the conflict and widen the scope of the crisis.

Blinken pointed to Washington’s desire for Iraq to play a role in preventing regional escalation.

Meanwhile, private website Shafaq News reported that “informed sources” said that Blinken sent a strong message to Al-Sudani regarding the intention of increasing the Iraqi armed groups loyal to Iran against the American forces in Iraq and the area.

Blinken confirmed – according to the site – that the American administration is ready to do anything to protect its forces and interests.

Al-Sudani emphasized that he is working hard to prevent any escalation by militias against American interests.

The Shafaq website said that in return, Sudan received American promises not to launch new attacks on members of the Popular Mobilization Forces and its affiliated groups, so that it could maintain control. on the silence between the two sides.

This comes at a time when there are increasing calls for foreign nationals to leave Lebanon, with changes in flights and air traffic to and from Lebanon and towards Israel.

For his part, Jordanian King Abdullah II stressed, during a phone call with US President Joe Biden, on Monday, the need to “decrease the escalation” and establish “complete silence” in the region in order not to slip into your “regional war.”

The King of Jordan said that reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire and ending the tragedy in Gaza is the immediate step that must be taken to protect the security of the region and prevent cause more war and conflict.

US Secretary of State Blinken had told his G7 counterparts that Washington believes an Iranian attack on Israel could begin within 24 to 48 hours, Axios reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. the call

The report says Blinken spoke to his counterparts amid US efforts to calm tensions in the region and prevent an outright war.

As the United States considers an Iranian attack inevitable following the assassination of senior Hezbollah and Hamas officials last week, Blinken told officials on the call that “the pressure is on Tehran to limit its aggression the best way to avoid a regional war.”

Blinken said that the United States does not know the exact time of the planned attack from Iran, but they believe that it may begin soon.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, said in statements he made from the Air Force headquarters, that the army must prepare for all eventualities, including a quick transition “from defense to attack.”

Gallant ordered senior Air Force officers to prepare for what was described as “any Iranian response,” according to Israel’s Army Radio.

While Iran says it does not want to increase tension in the Middle East, it believes it must punish Israel to prevent further instability in the region.