CAPRI, Italy (AP) — The U.S. said A group of seven Foreign ministers said on Friday that they received “last-minute” information from Israel about a drone operation in Iran, but did not participate in the apparent attack.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who chaired a meeting of ministers from industrialized nations, said the US provided the information at a Friday morning session that was changed at the last minute to address the suspected attack.
Early Friday morning, Iran Firing Air Defense from a major air base and nuclear site near the central Iranian city of Isfahan after detecting drones. It was part of an Israeli attack in retaliation against Tehran Unprecedented drone and missile strikes In the country last weekend.
Tajani said the US told G7 ministers that they had been informed “at the last minute” by Israel about the drones. “But there was no sharing of the US attack, it was just information.”
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken declined to comment on the claim, but insisted the US was not involved in any attack and was committed to working for “de-escalation” in the region.
“I'm not going to speak except to say that the United States has not engaged in any offensive actions,” Blinken said.
Asked to describe the current US-Israeli relationship, Blinken noted that Israel makes its own decisions and the United States is committed to its defense.
“As you saw a few days ago, we are committed to Israel's defense and necessary participation in its defense,” Blinken said, noting the move by the United States and allies to help Israel repel a weekend Iranian drone and missile attack.
“Again, Israel makes its decisions, but we have a commitment to protect it,” Blinken said.
Tajani said all the G7 partners shared information they knew about what happened in Iran on Friday. He said he spoke on the phone with the Italian embassies in Tel Aviv and Tehran and assured them that all Italians living in Isfahan were safe.
“There were no deaths or injuries,” Tajani said. “There is a group of Italians who live in the city where the drones arrived, and they are all without problems. They say that normal life has resumed and Iranian airspace has reopened.
“The weather looks better today than overnight,” he added.
In a statement following the three-day meeting, ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States urged parties to “prevent further escalation”.
The statement pledged support for Israel's defense and foreign ministers condemned “in the strongest terms” the “unprecedented attack against Israel on April 13-14, which Israel defeated with the help of its partners” and the capture. Portuguese-flagged ship MSC Aries in the Strait of Hormuz.
“We stand ready to accept further sanctions or take other measures, now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives,” the document read.
The group warned Iran against transferring ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia.
On top of that War in GazaThe Hamas group called for the release of hostages and reminded Israel to respect international and humanitarian law.
The G7 nations oppose “a full-scale military operation in Rafah that would have catastrophic consequences for civilians” and called for increased aid flows into Gaza.
“The G7 has worked and will work to reduce escalation,” Tajani told a closing press conference. That includes de-escalation, followed by a ceasefire, the release of hostages and aid to the Palestinian people, he said.
___
Contributed by Colin Barry in Chow, Italy.
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.”