Iran's threat of retaliation against Israel over the assassination of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, drew France and other major world powers into a high-wire act of diplomacy this week.
The fear of Iran striking back and provoking an unprecedented escalation of violence in the Middle East has prompted a flurry of diplomacy in the region.
Major western powers on Monday urged Iran and its allies to “refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree [to] a ceasefire [between Israel and Hamas] and the release of hostages".
In a joint statement France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy expressed support for the defence of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups.
They also told 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".
Following up, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Iran's new reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian in a telephone call that there was “a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration”.
Pezeshkian rebuffed the message.
"A punitive response to an aggressor is a right of nations and a solution for stopping crimes and aggression,” Pezeshkian said.
Pezeshkian has acknowledged he will follow the orders of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who already said Israel “paved the way for a severe punishment upon itself with this action”.
Just days before the Hamas leader was killed, French President Emmanuel Macron had phoned to Pezeshkian to congratulate him after he was sworn in as Iran's new president.
The French leader had told Pezeshkian that "all must be done to avoid a military escalation" between Israel and Lebanon after a deadly rocket strike in the Golan Heights blamed on Tehran-backed Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the Majdal Shams rocket attack, which killed 12 youths on Saturday, though the group claimed multiple strikes on Israeli military positions that day.
Boiling point
Macron asked Iran to call for restraint, saying that a new war would have "devastating consequences for the region", which is already on edge as a result of Israel's war in the Gaza Strip.
Tensions have risen to a boiling point after Haniyeh's assassination.
This week, the US military instructed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area.
The US also has ordered the USS Georgia guided missile submarine into the Mideast, while the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group has been in the Gulf of Oman.
Additional F-22 fighter jets have flown into the region, while the USS Wasp, a large amphibious assault ship carrying F-35 fighter jets, is in the Mediterranean Sea.
France already showed that it will stand by Israel militarily, when French jets intercepted Iranian drones and missiles over Jordan’s air space in April.
Israel managed to stop almost all of these missiles and drones. Only seven drones landed," Macron said in an interview with BFM TV, calling the operation a "victory for Israel".
He called Iran's attack, sending more than 300 drones, cruise and ballistic missiles towards Israel, a "disproportionate response" to a strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which Tehran blamed on Israel.
(with newswires)
