Many countries step up diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East

Many countries are stepping up efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, especially after the political leader of the Islamic movement Hamas Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran amid ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The incident came just hours after a top commander of Lebanon's Hezbollah Islamist movement was killed in an Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital Beirut, in response to an earlier attack on the Golan Heights.

These new developments further escalate tensions in the region amid the ongoing conflict between the Hamas Islamist movement and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

On August 4, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani stressed that easing tensions in the Middle East depends only on ending the conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, as well as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

According to the announcement of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, Mr. al-Sudani expressed such views in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The phone call also focused on exchanging views on the latest developments in the regional and international situation, as well as efforts to prevent further escalation of tensions in the region. For his part, Mr. Blinken expressed the US's desire that Iraq play a role in maintaining stability in the region and preventing escalation by all parties.

Also on August 4, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi exchanged views on the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, as well as developments in the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement published on the website of the Iranian President's Office, the exchange was made during a rare visit to Iran, in the context of regional countries increasingly concerned about the risk of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel after the death of the Hamas leader.

Iranian President Pezeshkian stressed the need to strengthen solidarity among Muslim countries to protect Palestinian people in Gaza.

President Pezeshkian also expressed hope that the negotiations between the Iranian and Jordanian diplomatic delegations on the resumption of normal relations between the two countries will soon materialize, helping to promote friendship and constructive cooperation between the two countries, thereby contributing to promoting regional stability.

For his part, Foreign Minister Safadi said that Jordan is seeking to resume normal relations with Iran and together ensure stability, security and peace in the region.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Safadi met with Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani to discuss the recent escalation of tensions in the region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov held a phone call on August 4, discussing efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East to protect security, stability and the interests of people in the region, as well as prevent the region from falling into a spiral of conflict.

Currently, Egypt is working with other countries including the US and Qatar to promote diplomatic efforts to prevent the risk of conflict spreading throughout the Middle East region.

Source