Five Western countries have called on Iran and its allies to refrain from anticipated attacks on Israel in retaliation for the recent killings of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah.
The leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement on Monday expressing their “support for ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions” in the Middle East and secure a ceasefire in the war on Gaza.
“We called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel and discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place,” the statement said.
The Western powers also endorsed the latest push by the US, Qatar and Egypt to broker a truce agreement to end the 10-month-long war.
Global concern that Israel’s war will escalate into an all-out regional conflict multiplied after the assassination last month of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and of Fuad Shukr, a top commander from the Lebanese group Hezbollah, in Beirut.
Analysts told Al Jazeera the killings, which have been blamed on Israel, could affect prospects for a ceasefire deal to end the war on Gaza.
Iran and Hezbollah maintain they are not seeking an all-out war but they remain ready should it break out.
‘Right to respond’
Earlier on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a separate joint statement calling for de-escalation.
“We call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages,” it said.
“The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid,” it added.
Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also held separate phone calls with with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, the German and UK governments said.
Starmer asked Pezeshkian to refrain from attacking Israel, saying that war was not in anyone’s interest, the prime minister’s office said.
Scholz “appealed to President Pezeshkian to do everything possible to prevent a further military escalation”, expressed “great concern about the danger of a regional conflagration in the Middle East” and said “the spiral of violence in the Middle East must be broken now”, his spokesman Wolfgang Buechner said in a statement.
According to a statement published by Iran’s official news agency IRNA following the phone call with Scholz, Pezeshkian said: “While emphasising diplomatic solutions to issues, Iran will never give in to pressure, to sanctions and to bullying and considers it has the right to respond to aggressors in accordance with international norms.”
John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said on Monday that the US was prepared for an attack to take place as soon as this week. “We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks,” he said.
Risks of open conflict
Iran is expected to carry out an order by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to “harshly punish” Israel, which it blames for the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran.
Hezbollah has also promised retribution after Israel said it killed Shukr in Beirut.
The Israeli military command is understood to be wary of open conflict as it continues its war in Gaza and the fight against Hamas. However, the country’s hardline political leaders appear eager to maintain bullish rhetoric and are pushing for increased military action.
Despite the increasingly urgent calls for restraint, both sides continue to issue threats as Israel’s bombardment of Gaza persists. Meanwhile, low-level hostilities across the Israel-Lebanon border continue.
Hezbollah said an Israeli air strike on Sunday killed two of its fighters. The Lebanese group reportedly fired 30 rockets into northern Israel on Monday.
The US on Sunday also ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area amid growing concerns about rising conflict in the region. It first announced the deployment of additional resources there last week, including an aircraft carrier.
The Western statements followed a similar message by US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar when they endorsed a three-phase framework to demand an Israel withdrawal from Gaza, a return of captives held in Gaza to their families and the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian aid.
At the same time, the US, France, Germany and Italy continue to ship weapons to Israel. However, it is reported that the new government in the UK has effectively suspended new export licences as it conducts a review.
