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Blinken said after meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong that it was crucial to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and urged all parties to find a way to reach an agreement.
“All parties must take steps to reduce tensions. Escalation is in no one’s interest. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence and more insecurity.”
The killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an attack in the Iranian capital, Tehran, last week has prompted threats of retaliation against Israel and further fuelled fears that the conflict in Gaza is spiralling into a wider Middle East war.
Iran blamed Israel and said it would “punish” it. Israeli authorities have not claimed responsibility for the killing.
Iran supports Hamas, which is at war with Israel in Gaza, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, whose top military commander, Fuad Shoukr, was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut last week.
US President Joe Biden met with his national security team, including Blinken, yesterday to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East.
On Monday, Blinken spoke with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdulati about tensions in the Middle East.
“One of our points of engagement is to encourage countries to send a message to Iran and to encourage countries to make clear to Iran that it is not in their interest to escalate this conflict, nor is it in their interest to initiate another attack on Israel,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
Miller did not give a clear answer at the press conference on whether Washington’s message was sent to Iran and through what channels.
“We are at a critical juncture in the region and it is important that all parties make decisions in the coming days to avoid escalation and calm tensions,” Miller said.
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