Iran-Israel tensions prompt US Secretary of State Blinken to contact the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey

Amid signs of a growing crisis in the Middle East following Iran’s strikes on Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made phone calls to the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt on Sunday. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Iran claimed that the over 300 drone and missile strikes on Israel on April 1 were retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Syria.

Israeli, US, and coalition troops knocked down almost all Iranian drones and missiles before they could reach their objectives.

Not long after US President Joe Biden had separate phone discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and King Abdullah of Jordan, as well as a conference call with other G-7 leaders, there was a diplomatic frenzy to combat the issue.

The American leadership emphasized the need to prevent further escalation in the area and reiterated America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security in all of the conversations.

In a readout of the conversations that Blinken held with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, they also reaffirmed the significance of diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the Gaza crisis that offers long-term peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Blinken expressed gratitude to Fidan for Turkey’s continued efforts to stop the situation from getting worse and spoke with Shoukry about the significance of continuing efforts to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza and increase humanitarian aid there, as well as securing an immediate ceasefire that guarantees the release of all hostages.

Miller added, “Blinken thanked Jordan for its leadership in providing Palestinian civilians with life-saving humanitarian aid, including through joint US-Jordan airdrops and overland deliveries.”

Blinken reaffirmed that the US would continue to support Israel’s self-defense even if it does not wish an escalation in his conversation with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud. Miller said that the significance of a coordinated diplomatic response was acknowledged by both the foreign minister and the secretary.

In his conversation with Saudi Minister of Defense, Khalid bin Salman, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Austin reportedly emphasized that the US does not desire escalation and would continue to support Israel and US forces.

According to Ryder, Austin emphasized the value of the US’s ongoing defense cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed the US’s commitment to working with it and other allies to reduce tensions in the area.

According to Ryder, Austin also updated Gallant on his discussions with friends and partners to strengthen international resolve against Iranian aggression.

In the meanwhile, Biden addressed the biggest foreign policy crisis of his administration with the leaders of Congress.

In order to address Iran’s unprecedented strike on Israel, Biden called Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries this afternoon. The White House said that the president spoke on the phone about how vital it is for the House of Representatives to approve the national security supplemental as quickly as possible.

During an emergency meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres informed the Security Council that it is imperative to refrain from taking any action that would spark significant armed conflicts in the Middle East on many fronts.

“Regional and even international peace and security are eroding by the minute. He said, “More war is not something the world or the region can afford.”

Reporters in New York were informed by Schumer that Iran’s “evil” acts are isolating it from the rest of the world.

“Passing that supplemental right away is the best way to support Israel in restoring its anti-missile and anti-drone capabilities. The security supplementary would resupply the anti-missile and anti-drone defenses found in the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow, as I said before. Israel spent about a billion dollars protecting itself.

John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Communications Advisor, spoke on many programs and said that the US and Biden are “making good on its ironclad commitment to defend Israel.” Furthermore, he made it apparent that the US does not want to fight Iran.

Over the course of many hours, hundreds of drones and missiles were fired, and almost all of them were shot out of the sky. That’s not by happenstance. Kirby said Fox News, “That’s a fantastic testament to the might of the Israeli military as well as our own military might and the effort, the resources President Biden committed to helping defend Israel.”

Israel gave the whole world a stunning display of its military might, demonstrating to them that they are not alone in the world and have allies, Kirby told NBC News.

It will now be up to the Israelis to decide whether and how to retaliate. We appreciate and are aware of that. The president, however, has made that quite obvious. We are not seeking escalation on this matter, nor are we seeking a war with Iran. We’ll keep supporting Israel in its self-defense,” he said.