Washington: As his government declared that it was working nonstop to prevent a full-scale conflict in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden convened crisis meetings regarding a possible Iranian counterattack on Israel.
Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was slain in Tehran by a suspected Israeli attack, which prompted desperate diplomacy between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vice President Joe Biden, according to KLAX-TV.
“We are engaged in intense diplomacy, pretty much around the clock, with a straightforward message — all parties must refrain from escalation,” Blinken said after joining other top officials in a White House meeting.
“It’s also critical that we break this cycle by reaching a ceasefire in Gaza,” Blinken added, who has also spoken since Sunday with G7 counterparts and Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani.
While Blinken called high-ranking officials in Qatar and Egypt, the main go-betweens for a ceasefire in the 10-month Israel-Hamas conflict, President Biden spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, who assisted in downing Iranian drones and missiles in a previous standoff in April.
Tensions in the region have already increased since a rocket strike on an Iraqi installation on Monday resulted in severe injuries to US forces.
During his last few months in office, Biden had hoped to bring an end to the Gaza War and work toward securing a historic agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
According to KLAX-TV, he has instead increased the US military presence in the Middle East as a show of strength to Iran.
Biden has expressed his displeasure with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the death of Haniyeh, who was participating in the ceasefire discussions, despite his steadfast support for Israel’s campaign against Hamas.
Blinken, who has cautioned that Iran might launch an attack shortly, presented a fresh argument in favour of Biden’s cease-fire proposal, which would stop hostilities in Gaza and release captives taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
A ceasefire “will unlock possibilities for more enduring calm, not only in Gaza itself but in other areas where the conflict could spread,” Blinken said as he met Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Blinken, subtly hinting at US complaints, stated, “What it really comes down to, really, is all parties finding ways to come to an agreement, not look for reasons to delay or to say no.”
–IANS
