U.S. Secretary of State Blinken Declines to Confirm Reported Israeli Attack on Iran

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Refuses to Confirm Reported Israeli Attack on Iran, Focuses on De-escalation Efforts

CAPRI (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced repeated questions about a reported Israeli attack on Iran during a news conference on the southern Italian island of Capri. Despite the persistent inquiries, Blinken declined to confirm the attack, emphasizing that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations.

“What we’re focused on, what the G7 is focused on, is our work to de-escalate tensions, to de-escalate from any potential conflicts,” Blinken stated firmly.

The situation unfolded as explosions rocked the Iranian city of Isfahan in the early hours of Friday, reportedly due to an Israeli attack. However, Tehran downplayed the incident and indicated that it had no plans for retaliation, signaling a desire to prevent a region-wide war.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned that the United States was “informed at the last minute” about the reported attack, but provided no further details.

The silence from Israel on the incident added to the intrigue, especially after the country had previously indicated plans to retaliate against Iran for previous strikes. The shadow war between the two nations, fought through proxies, has escalated in recent months, particularly during the conflict in Gaza.

As tensions simmer in the region, Blinken’s focus on de-escalation and diplomatic efforts underscores the importance of avoiding further conflict. The situation remains fluid, with all eyes on the Middle East for any potential developments.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Humeyra Pamuk; additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk, Editing by Ros Russell)

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