Jordan's Foreign Minister: We Will Not Allow Our Country to Become a Battlefield for Any Side

Amid ongoing speculation about a potential confrontation between the Iranian government and Israel, Ayman Safadi, Jordan's Foreign Minister, reiterated on Saturday, August 20, that his country will not allow itself to become a battlefield for any side. The head of Jordan's diplomacy had previously stated during an Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting that Jordan would not permit either the Islamic Republic or Israel to attack each other from its skies. Last Sunday, during a rare visit to Iran, he called for an end to the escalation of violence in the Middle East, stating that the region must be able to live in 'peace, security, and stability.' One day after Safadi's visit to Iran, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the King of Jordan, and both leaders discussed efforts to 'reduce regional tensions.' Jordan's renewed emphasis on respecting its sovereignty and its increased diplomatic efforts to prevent the outbreak of widespread security conflict in the Middle East come as the country played a significant role in thwarting the Islamic Republic's extensive air attack on Israel in late April by intercepting projectiles fired from Iran. The deadly Israeli attack on Tuesday, August 1, against Foad Shukr, the highest-ranking military commander of Hezbollah, and the deadly attack attributed to Israel on August 2 against Ismail Haniyeh, the former head of Hamas, have placed the Middle East on the brink of a direct confrontation between the Iranian government and its proxy groups, particularly Hezbollah, on one side and Israel and its allies on the other. Senior officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei, the leader, and Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, have threatened that they will not leave these attacks unanswered. In response, Israel has also warned that anyone who attacks the country will pay a heavy price. An analysis of the latest regional developments and the rare visit of the Jordanian Foreign Minister to Iran indicates that the Islamic Republic is still considering how to respond to Israel, and Hezbollah may act sooner. The Middle East is concerned about a military action by the Islamic Republic; Biden spoke with the King of Jordan and his national security team. The rare visit of the Jordanian Foreign Minister to Tehran aimed to reduce tensions; the region must live in 'peace, security, and stability.'