United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out to Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Friday. The United States has reportedly knocked on every door to prevent Iran from attacking Israel. However, several rockets were fired by Iran-backed Hizbollah at Israel. Hours after Blinken urged Beijing to use its influence to deter Tehran from launching an attack on Tel Aviv amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. He also engaged with Turkish, Saudi Arabian, and other counterparts for the same.
During the phone call, Wang Yi focused on the importance of the United States playing "a constructive role" in the region, a statement issued by the US State Department said.
Notably, Beijing has also voiced its condemnation of the recent airstrike on an Iranian consulate building in Damascus. China will continue to work towards resolving the Middle East issue and contributing to de-escalation efforts, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, as reported by Reuters.
Blinken's diplomatic efforts extend beyond China. He has also engaged with Turkish, Saudi Arabian, and other counterparts. The main focus of the conversation was to assess the effects of further escalation in the region.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken's discussions with various foreign ministers, conveyed a clear message to Iran against escalating the conflict.
The heightened tensions follow United States concerns regarding an imminent Iranian attack on Israel, as reported by US media outlets. Read the full report here.
According to Reuters, speculations suggest the potential use of high-precision missiles and drones targeting military and government installations in Israel.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated Israel's stance on Thursday, saying that "any direct Iranian attack would be met with a swift Israeli response". Gallant conveyed this message to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He underscored Israel's readiness to retaliate if necessary.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's recent warning further exacerbates the situation. Khamenei stated that Israel "must be punished and it shall be" following the airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria's Damascus. The attack had further raised concerns of further hostilities in the region.