Blinken sends message to Iran after assassination of Hamas leader
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has conveyed a message to Iran through Qatar. Washington is urging Tehran not to retaliate for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, according to CNN.
According to a source, during a conversation with Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Blinken requested that a message be passed on to Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
CNN reports that these messages were intended to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Blinken urged against retaliatory action for the killing of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Qatar's Prime Minister agreed to relay the message.
Killing of Hamas leader
On July 31, it was reported that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran. Iran has threatened to respond to Haniyeh's killing.
At the time of the attack, Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah was also in the building where Haniyeh was killed. He was not the target of the attack and survived. Both leaders were attending the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president.
For more on the situation in the Middle East and the possibility of war, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
