Both Britain and France have expressed concern over the developments in the Middle East, following Iran's response to Israel, which Israel has threatened to counter. Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday evening in retaliation for an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of several Iranian officials.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Israel, on Monday, not to escalate the situation, stating that "Iran's attack on Israel was a failure." He noted that the Iranian step failed almost entirely and emphasized that the focus should be on reaching a ceasefire in Gaza. Cameron told British media, "If you were in Israel this morning, you would think rationally that you have every right to respond to that... and indeed, it is their right. However, we urge them not to escalate."
He added, "In many ways, this represented a double failure for Iran. The attack was almost entirely unsuccessful, and it showed the world that they are the malevolent influence in the region... So we hope there will not be a retaliatory response." In response to a question about banning the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Cameron stated, "We will keep it under review." When asked if the government would consider imposing further sanctions on Iran, Cameron responded, "Yes, of course. We already have 400 sanctions in place against Iran."
Meanwhile, Iranian state news agency ISNA reported that after summoning the British ambassador in Tehran, the British Foreign Office called in Iran’s Charge d'Affaires in London, Hosseini Matin, to express its protest against the Iranian attack on Israel.
In parallel, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over the potential escalation of conflict in the Middle East. In an interview on "BFM" television and "RMC" radio, Macron stated, "We are all concerned about the possibility of escalation in the Middle East. We will do everything we can to avoid escalation and persuade Israel not to respond to the Iranian strike." The French president added that the situation is currently very unstable, noting that "Iran responded to the Israeli strike in Damascus disproportionately."
The Wall Street Journal reported statements from three officials in U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, indicating that Israel might respond to the Iranian attack on Monday. The sources stated that the U.S. president attempted, during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to dissuade Israel from a hasty response. Officials confirmed that the United States would not participate in any offensive action against Iran and will work to form a united diplomatic front with its allies to prevent hostilities from escalating into an open war that could engulf the Middle East and involve them.
Additionally, U.S. network ABC News quoted Israeli military spokesperson Peter Lerner as saying that military officials have presented the government with a range of response options to the Iranian attack. Lerner stated in remarks to reporters in Tel Aviv that Israel's response might include a military strike, but it may not, noting that the Israeli government would determine its next steps today or in the coming days.
