UK, Germany, France urge Iran not to attack Israel
The United Kingdom, Germany and France issued a joint statement on Monday urging Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, which they warned would exacerbate tensions and jeopardize a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
A billboard with portraits of slain Hamas terrorist Ismail Haniyeh, Iranian Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr on a main road near Beirut International Airport, Aug. 3, 2024. Photo by Ibrahim Amro/AFP via Getty Images.
“We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region, and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability,” reads the statement, which was signed by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree [on] a ceasefire and the release of hostages,” the statement continues.
“They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East,” it warns.
The three leaders also expressed their support for the ongoing talks regarding a hostages-for-ceasefire deal with Hamas, saying that “the fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released.”
Hamas announced on Sunday that the terror group’s representatives would boycott a final round of negotiations scheduled for Thursday.
A revised Israeli intelligence assessment suggests that Iran is slated to launch an assault on the Jewish state “within days” in a joint attack with its Lebanese Hezbollah proxy, Axios reported on Wednesday night.
The report, which cited two sources with knowledge of the intelligence reports, said that Israeli assessments indicate that Tehran’s attack could be launched before Thursday’s ceasefire talks.
AJN
