Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Wednesday that an Israeli retaliation against Iranian strikes could drag the whole region into a devastating conflict.
In an interview released by state media, Safadi stated that Jordan has been working to reduce tension between Israel and Hamas since Oct. 7, which would have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and security.
"The risks are enormous. That could drag the whole region into war, which would be devastating to us in the region and we’ll have very, very serious implications for the rest of the world including the U.S, he situation is too dangerous. The chances of regional explosion are real, and that has got to stop. We’ve got to make sure there’s no further escalation," Safadi said.
International community should put pressure on Israel
"Now the pressure should be on Israel not to escalate," Safadi said, adding Tehran had said it attacked in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 and would not go further unless Israel responded.
Jordan neighbours Syria and Iraq – both countries where Iranian proxy forces operate – and is next door to Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank
"We are in the middle of the fire, so both parties have to understand that we'll do what we have to do to protect our own, and to prevent this escalation," Safadi said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was using the confrontation with Iran to divert attention from Gaza, Safadi said. The Israeli leader should not be allowed to drag "Washington and major Western powers into a war with Iran," he added.
Source: Reuters
