America's 'Messages' to Iran: Escalating Tensions in the Middle East Are Not in Tehran's Favor

One day after the Jordanian Foreign Minister's visit to Tehran, the U.S. State Department announced that the United States has sent 'messages' to Iran, stating that escalating tensions are not in Tehran's favor. Matthew Miller said in a conversation with reporters on Monday, August 6, that speculation about a potential Iranian attack on Israel cannot be made, as this decision is up to Iran. However, he added, 'We have continuously sent messages through diplomatic channels and encouraged countries to tell Iran that escalating tensions are not in their favor, and we will defend Israel.' He also recalled the visit of the Russian National Security Secretary to Tehran, noting that the United States does not expect Moscow to play a 'constructive role' in Middle Eastern tensions. According to Russian and Iranian media, Sergei Shoigu, the Russian National Security Secretary, arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with senior Iranian officials, including his Iranian counterpart and Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Meanwhile, the White House stated that Joe Biden also discussed efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East during a phone call with the King of Jordan. As fears of a retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxy groups against Israel in response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the extremist group Hamas, have increased, diplomatic efforts to prevent war have also accelerated. The White House announced in a statement released on Monday, August 6, that in the conversation between the U.S. President and King Abdullah, both sides discussed efforts to reduce regional tensions, including reaching an immediate ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian Foreign Minister, made a rare visit to Tehran on Sunday to negotiate with the Iranian Foreign Minister and President to reduce tensions. On the other hand, media reports indicate that Joe Biden held a meeting with his national security advisors on Monday regarding the situation in the Middle East and the possibility of an Iranian attack on Israel. Kamala Harris, the Vice President and the new Democratic Party candidate in the U.S. presidential elections, was also present at this meeting in the White House. On Monday, the Israeli website 'Walla Net' reported that the Hungarian Foreign Minister, whose country is currently holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, told the Israeli Foreign Minister that Iran would attack Israel. According to this media, Peter Szijjarto told his Israeli counterpart Yisrael Katz that Ali Bagheri Kani, the Iranian Foreign Minister, had informed him of this news. However, continuing diplomatic efforts to prevent the worsening situation in the Middle East following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the President of France spoke with leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Emmanuel Macron wrote on the platform X, formerly Twitter, that in a phone call with Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, all regional stakeholders were asked to exercise restraint. He emphasized, 'Escalating tensions are not in anyone's favor.' Several Western countries have called for their citizens to leave Lebanon and Iran; meanwhile, the number of countries warning their citizens to exit Lebanon has increased, and some European governments have prepared measures for their evacuation. On Monday, the German news agency reported that the cancellation of many international flights to Lebanon and from this country has caused 'chaos' at Beirut International Airport. A day before the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, which Israel has not claimed responsibility for, the country killed Fouad Shukr, a senior commander of Hezbollah, by attacking a building in Beirut. In recent days, reports indicate that Iran, with the help of its proxy groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militia groups in Iraq, intends to attack Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched a drone attack on northern Israel on Monday morning, which, according to the Israeli army, injured two of its soldiers. Over the past ten months since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Hezbollah and Israel have continuously exchanged fire along the border between Lebanon and Israel, but this trend has intensified in recent weeks. A rocket attack on the village of Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights, which Israel attributed to Hezbollah and resulted in the deaths of several children and teenagers, initiated a new phase of Israeli military attacks into Lebanese territory. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the attack on the Golan. This militia group, which is one of the most significant Iranian-supported forces in the Middle East, has promised to respond to Israeli attacks, and the Associated Press reports that alongside other Iranian proxy groups, it will play a 'key role' in a potential retaliatory attack by Iran against Israel. This comes as Iran, in late April, in response to an Israeli attack on its consulate building in Damascus that killed several senior commanders of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, fired dozens of missiles and drones towards Israel. Most of these projectiles were intercepted by the air defense of Israel and its allies before reaching Israeli territory.