Macron, Jordan King express concern, urge de-escalation in Middle East
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Both leaders have expressed "the need to avoid a regional military escalation at all costs."
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French President Emmanuel Macron and Jordan's King Abdullah II address a joint statement on February 16, 2024. (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Jordan's King Abdullah II agreed that a military escalation in the Middle East should be avoided "at all costs," according to the French presidency.
Fears of a regional war have grown as Iran and the Lebanese Resistance - Hezbollah have pledged to avenge fatal assaults on Beirut, killing Hezbollah commander Fouad Shokor and Tehran, killing Hamas Political Bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh.
Both leaders expressed "their utmost concern" and underlined "the need to avoid a regional military escalation at all costs."
Iran considers the assassination of martyr Ismail Haniyeh to be one of its red lines that was crossed, "regardless of the details of the operation," indicating that it will handle the response accordingly, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Tehran reported, citing an informed Iranian source.
That is why "Iran will respond in a way that crosses the red lines set by the Israeli occupation," the informed source stated.
They also pointed out that "Iran will not yield to pressures and messages of de-escalation because any abandonment of retaliation will open the door to more Israeli aggressions."
Today, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, affirmed that his country "has not and will not leave any attack on its sovereignty unanswered," stressing that the Israeli occupation and the United States "will regret their actions and will be forced to change their calculations."
Earlier, Kazem Gharibabadi, the Deputy Chief for International Affairs of the Iranian Judiciary, warned in an interview for Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation would face severe repercussions for its actions, such that "it would not dare to commit further acts of terrorism or violate Iran’s sovereignty."
It is noteworthy that previously, France intercepted drones launched by Iran toward the occupied Palestinian territories in retaliation against the Israeli occupation attacking Iran's consulate in Syria "at Jordan's request."
France was among three foreign nations that helped the Israeli occupation intercept the projectiles bound for the occupied Palestinian territories, as its "effort" was joined by the United Kingdom and the United States.
Jordan's FM says he's not in Tehran to convey message from 'Israel'
Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani held discussions with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Tehran to address regional developments, Iranian media reported.
Safadi, who arrived in Tehran earlier on Sunday for talks with Iranian officials, met with Bagheri Kani at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the afternoon.
Following the meeting, Safadi clarified, "I told my Iranian counterpart that I was not there to convey a message from Israel in Tehran."
The top Jordanian diplomat added that the purpose of his visit to the Iranian capital "is to resolve the differences between the two countries in a clear and transparent manner, in a way that is in line with our mutual interests."
Earlier on Sunday, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry mentioned that Safadi "will deliver a message from His Majesty King Abdullah II to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the situation in the region and bilateral relations."
Safadi's meeting with Bagheri Kani and other Iranian senior officials in Tehran marks the first time in 20 years a senior Jordanian official has visited the Islamic Republic, IRNA reported.
The last time a top Jordanian diplomat made an official visit to Iran was former Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez in 2004.
