As the situation in the Middle East remains tense over the possibility of Israeli retaliatory attacks on Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has announced that as part of his diplomatic career aimed at preventing further escalation of wars in the region, It arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Another important diplomatic meeting scheduled for Wednesday will not take place. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was scheduled to travel to Washington to discuss the situation in the Middle East with U.S. officials. But on Tuesday, the visit was postponed, although the Israeli prime minister’s office declined to say why.
The fate of the two visits plays into the complex regional dynamics that the Biden administration must navigate as it seeks to quell wars in Gaza and Lebanon and prevent a third war from erupting between Israel and Iran. highlighted.
The postponement of Mr. Gallant’s visit to Washington comes amid rising tensions between President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s war efforts in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as Israel’s response to last week’s barrage of Iranian missile attacks. The move comes amid talks between the two governments on how to retaliate.
Since the Gaza war began a year ago with a Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel, Mr. Biden has repeatedly supported Israel while trying to broker a cease-fire and threatening Israel with concerns that the U.S. could provoke further escalation. I have repeatedly vowed to try to keep it away. The likelihood of civilian death and suffering or violence spreading to a wider area increases.
But Israeli leaders have often ignored guidance from the White House, recently escalating military attacks, attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon, assassinating many of its leaders, and sending ground troops into the country’s south. are.
More recently, talks between the United States and Israel have seen Iran fire approximately 180 shots at Israel last Tuesday in response to Israeli assassinations of leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy forces in the region. It focuses on Israel‘s response to the launch of a ballistic missile.
Mr. Gallant was scheduled to discuss Israel’s plans with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin in Washington on Wednesday. But on Tuesday, the Pentagon announced the visit had been postponed.
Further complicating the relationship between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu is a new book by veteran journalist Bob Woodward, who notes that over the past year, Mr. It was revealed that he had reacted explosively to Woodward said he asked Netanyahu, “What is your strategy?” regarding the war in Gaza.
This week, on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Biden called President Isaac Herzog to express his “deepest condolences to the people of Israel,” according to a White House statement. He did not call Mr. Netanyahu.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signaled a more neutral approach to regional issues between the Gulf Arab states, some of America’s other closest partners in the Middle East.
In the Saudi capital Riyadh, Aragushi met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan. Iran’s ISNA news agency reported that Araghchi’s regional tour aims to end “Israeli crimes” in Gaza and Lebanon. He met with Lebanese government officials in Beirut on Friday and with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia and Iran have a long history of bitter rivalry, but a new agreement was reached in March 2023 that eases tensions in the Persian Gulf and opens the door to high-level diplomatic contacts such as Wednesday’s talks. Ta.
Senior officials from other close U.S. allies, such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which recently established diplomatic relations with Israel, have also recently maintained contact with Iranian leaders or attended events. He has made it clear that he has no intention of taking sides. During direct conflict between Israel and Iran.
