Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said Friday that the United States is “not engaged in any offensive activity” in Iran when asked about Israel’s attack on the country on Friday, but he declined to comment more.
Mr. Blinken spoke on the final day of a meeting of Group of 7 ministers in Capri, Italy, where the agenda was dominated by the conflict in the Middle East, including exchanges of strikes over the past week between Israel and Iran. Speaking to reporters before leaving the island, Blinken said the G7 had agreed to urge de-escalation between Iran and Israel to avoid a wider war.
But Mr. Blinken did not even directly confirm the Israeli strike, which appeared to be the country’s first military response to last weekend’s Iranian attack, instead referring to “the reported event” and he would not say whether the United States was notified in advance. about Israel’s actions. Just before speaking, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters that the US had been “informed at the last minute” about the Israeli attack.
“But there is no involvement from the US side,” Mr. Tajani said. “It is simply the information provided,” adding that he believes the collective efforts of the G7 deserve recognition because of “the small scale of the event.”
Mr. Tajani did not say how he knew the US was not informed in advance, but he had just recently arrived from a meeting with Mr. Blinken and other G7 ministers. A senior US official said on Friday that Israel informed the US through multiple channels shortly before the attack on Iran.
The G7 weighed in in a statement concluding the three-day meeting, calling on countries to prevent further escalation “following reports of strikes” on Friday. The G7 includes the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the European Union.
The statement also said member states “condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack” on Israel.
“Israel and its people have our full solidarity and support and we reaffirm our commitment to Israel’s security,” the statement added.
The G7 also issued a new warning to Tehran, asking “Iran and its affiliated groups to cease attacks” across the Middle East and saying “we stand ready to impose further sanctions or take other measures”.
Blinken said of Iran that “degrading its missile and drone capabilities” is a key goal of the G7.
Blinken also addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, criticizing Hamas for so far failing to reach a ceasefire that includes the release of Israeli prisoners.
“The only thing standing behind the people of Gaza and the ceasefire is Hamas,” he said.
However, he also touched on a major point of conflict with Israel, warning against what Israel said was a planned attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge. shelter to avoid fighting elsewhere in the enclave. Israel said it was necessary to invade Rafah to destroy Hamas battalions in the city.
“We cannot support a major military operation in Rafah,” Blinken said. Mr. Blinken said that protecting and caring for civilians in such an operation is “a huge task for which we do not yet have a plan.”
Asked about Thursday’s U.S. veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution seeking to recognize a Palestinian state, Blinken said that while the United States supports the creation of a state but to do so would require negotiations and the proposed resolution “would have no effect”. has the effect of really moving things forward and achieving a Palestinian state.”
“You can put something down on a piece of paper and wave it around,” he added. It doesn’t work. What is intended to be effective is real diplomacy.”
Mr. Blinken also noted that, under U.S. legislation passed by Congress, U.N. acceptance of a Palestinian member state would require “a complete cutoff of our funding to the United Nations.”
