Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz raised eyebrows on Friday (16) when he said Israel would expect international partners such as the UK and France to join the country in responding to a potential attack by Iran, “not only in defense but also in striking significant targets in Iran.”
Katz’s statement came during a meeting to discuss “preventing regional escalation and promoting a hostage agreement” with his British and Israeli counterparts in Jerusalem, according to a readout from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Both France and the UK, however, have downplayed this prospect, with the UK also stressing the need to break the “current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence” in the Middle East.
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné told a news conference in Jerusalem that it would be “inappropriate” to speak of “an Israeli retaliation or preparation for an Israeli retaliation” while diplomatic talks are ongoing.
Katz’s statement comes amid growing fears of a retaliatory strike by Iran following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran has blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s death, but Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
When asked about Katz’s statement, a British Foreign Office spokesperson stressed that the UK is “working closely with our allies to de-escalate tensions”, adding that they “urge all parties to refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence”.
“We call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that could further escalate regional tensions and jeopardize the opportunity to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. No country or nation stands to gain from further escalation in the Middle East,” the spokesman said.
A source with knowledge of Friday’s (16) meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel, France and the United Kingdom told CNN that the three ministers “did not discuss joining a coalition for any strike against Iran.”
However, a senior US administration official struck a tougher tone, warning on Friday (16) that there could be “catastrophic” consequences “particularly for Iran” if Tehran decides to attack Israel and escalate the conflict in the Middle East.
The official added that the US has encouraged Iran, through intermediaries, not to attack because there is a “path” on the table to a cease-fire and a deal to release hostages. A de-escalation of the conflict and a potential cease-fire deal are “separate,” the official said, but are happening “in parallel.”
When asked by MJ Lee of CNN whether the US would be involved in any strikes on Iran in the wake of Katz’s comments, the US administration official hedged, saying the situation was “very hypothetical.” “We have deployed the necessary military resources to the region for all possible contingencies and are working in close coordination with partners and allies,” he continued.
“We are ready for any possible contingency and we will help defend Israel, and we will not anticipate anything else. I just said this, this attack by Iran was predicted now. So you know, we will see. I will just say that we are prepared,” they concluded.
CNN’s Samantha Waldenberg and Alex Marquardt contributed to this report.
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Source: CNN Brasil
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