US passes message to Iran not to escalate at 'critical moment' for Middle East

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00:00As concerns grow that a wider war could break out in the Middle East, after Iran vowed retaliation

00:06for Israel's suspected assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Antony Blinken

00:12insisted Washington is doing all it can to calm tensions.

00:15We are engaged in intense diplomacy, pretty much round the clock, with a very simple message.

00:22All parties must refrain from escalation. All parties must take steps to ease tensions.

00:33Escalation is not in anyone's interest. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence,

00:40more insecurity.

00:42Blinken also said it was critical that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is reached and

00:46implored all parties to find a way to reach a deal.

00:50But many fear that the killing of Haniyeh, that Iran has blamed on Israel, has dealt

00:54a blow to ceasefire prospects.

00:57On Monday, Turkey's foreign minister accused Netanyahu of wanting to quote, set the whole

01:01region on fire.

01:05This assassination has made it clear. Netanyahu does not want peace. Netanyahu wants to set

01:10the whole region on fire. Israel pursues violence and expansionism.

01:20Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the death of Haniyeh.

01:24The assassination came not long after an Israeli strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah military

01:29chief Fouad Choukri, a killing that Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran,

01:34has vowed revenge for.

01:36France, Britain, Turkey and Italy are among the countries urging their citizens to leave

01:41Lebanon.

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