US seeks to de-escalate Middle East tensions amid fears of Iranian retaliation
Ambassador to UN calls for ceasefire, urges restraint
The United States is actively working “to turn the temperature down” in the Middle East, according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations. Her remarks come as concerns grow over the potential for an Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel.
Speaking to the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday, Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the US’s commitment to “deter and defend against any future attack and avoid regional conflict.”
Concerns over potential Iranian response
Fears of Iranian retaliation have escalated following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. Although Israel has not claimed responsibility, suspicions remain. US President Joe Biden suggested that brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza might help prevent Iran from launching an attack on Israel.
“That’s my expectation, but we’ll see,” Biden told reporters on Tuesday during a visit to New Orleans, Louisiana. “We’ll see what Iran does and what happens if there’s any attack, but I’m not giving up.”
Ceasefire talks and US diplomacy
A new round of ceasefire negotiations is set to take place on Thursday, either in Doha or Cairo. However, Hamas official Ahmad Abdul Hadi, speaking from Lebanon, has reportedly stated that Hamas will not participate in the talks.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed a planned trip to the Middle East on Tuesday to engage in the Gaza ceasefire discussions. International mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar have been working towards an agreement that would involve the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Meanwhile, the US has approved new arms sales to Israel, totaling $20 billion. The deal includes 50 F-15 fighter jets, tank cartridges, mortar cartridges, and military cargo vehicles, with aircraft deliveries beginning in 2029.
Security Council discussions and international reactions
During the UN Security Council meeting, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield reiterated the need for a ceasefire agreement to be finalized. “A broader regional conflict is not inevitable,” she said. “The United States’ overall goal remains to turn the temperature down in the region, deter and defend against any future attacks, and avoid regional conflict. That starts with finalizing a deal for an immediate ceasefire with hostage release in Gaza. We need to get this over the finish line.”
Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, criticized the Security Council for not doing enough to halt Israel’s military operations in Gaza. “Wake up. Stop finding excuses. Stop imagining that you can reason with the Israeli government so it stops killing civilians by the thousands,” Mansour urged.
Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan defended Israel’s military actions, asserting that every effort was made to minimize collateral damage and accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields. Erdan also condemned the Security Council’s failure to address Iran’s actions, warning that “millions of Israelis are preparing for a direct Iranian attack.”
Ongoing conflict and rising casualties
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, more than 39,920 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The conflict has also sparked almost daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military along the Israel-Lebanon border, resulting in hundreds of additional deaths.
In the midst of a global diplomatic push to ease tensions, Iran has dismissed calls from the UK and other Western nations to refrain from retaliating against Israel. Israel, which has not acknowledged involvement in Haniyeh’s assassination, has raised its military to its highest alert level.
The US has warned of a possible “significant set of attacks” by Iran or its proxies, potentially as soon as this week, and has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East to support Israel’s defense efforts.