04:17Mandatory credit: US State Department
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied US involvement in an alleged Israeli attack on Iran during a press conference following a Group of 7 (G7) Foreign Ministers meeting in Capri on Friday.
"The United States has not been involved in any offensive operations," the secretary said. "Our focus has been on, of course, making sure that Israel can effectively defend itself, but also de-escalating tensions, avoiding conflict. That remains our focus."
According to media reports, Iranian officials have claimed there were no plans to respond, adding that the 'foreign source has not been confirmed' and the country had 'not received any external attack'. Israel has not commented.
Friday's reports came as Israel suggested it could retaliate after Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at the country last weekend. That action itself came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 - which Israel has not accepted responsibility for.
Israel's Western allies repeatedly warned against further strikes, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 'we will make our own decisions'.
"We've remained intensely focused on Gaza. We urge the rapid implementation of Israel's humanitarian assistance commitments; more aid, more crossings, better deconfliction, better distribution of the assistance to all who need it," Blinken added.
Blinken also defended the US's veto on full UN membership for Palestine at the UN Security Council, stating that 'this is not the time' to grant the territories state recognition.
"There is going to be a proper time, a rightful time for recognition. This is not that time. We need to do the diplomacy, we need to do the hard work to bring the parties together, to bring the region together and to demonstrate that there's a much better future that awaits everyone if they follow this path," he said.
"We're committed to working to achieve a Palestinian state with the necessary guarantees for Israel's security and we've been working on that, including, as part of the potential normalisation process between Israel and Saudi Arabia - something that we've intensely engaged on over the last several months and weeks," Blinken continued.
The draft resolution, proposed by Algeria - representing the Arab nations on the Council - required nine out of 15 votes - and none of the five permanent members vetoing. Ultimately, 12 backed it, with the US against and abstentions from the UK and Switzerland.
Washington, widely predicted to use its veto to avoid recognising a Palestinian state, said that 'premature actions will not achieve statehood'. Ahead of the decision, Israel's representative claimed a vote in favour could be seen as a 'reward' for the 'perpetrators of atrocities', referring to the Hamas group.
Palestine has held observer status at the world body since 2012.
The vote comes as fighting continues in Gaza in the seventh month of the conflict. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
Palestinian officials reported that over 34,000 people had been killed at the time of publication. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response.
However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
G7 'committed to de-escalating' tensions - Blinken denies US involvement in alleged Israeli attack on Iran
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied US involvement in an alleged Israeli attack on Iran during a press conference following a Group of 7 (G7) Foreign Ministers meeting in Capri on Friday.
"The United States has not been involved in any offensive operations," the secretary said. "Our focus has been on, of course, making sure that Israel can effectively defend itself, but also de-escalating tensions, avoiding conflict. That remains our focus."
According to media reports, Iranian officials have claimed there were no plans to respond, adding that the 'foreign source has not been confirmed' and the country had 'not received any external attack'. Israel has not commented.
Friday's reports came as Israel suggested it could retaliate after Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at the country last weekend. That action itself came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 - which Israel has not accepted responsibility for.
Israel's Western allies repeatedly warned against further strikes, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 'we will make our own decisions'.
"We've remained intensely focused on Gaza. We urge the rapid implementation of Israel's humanitarian assistance commitments; more aid, more crossings, better deconfliction, better distribution of the assistance to all who need it," Blinken added.
Blinken also defended the US's veto on full UN membership for Palestine at the UN Security Council, stating that 'this is not the time' to grant the territories state recognition.
"There is going to be a proper time, a rightful time for recognition. This is not that time. We need to do the diplomacy, we need to do the hard work to bring the parties together, to bring the region together and to demonstrate that there's a much better future that awaits everyone if they follow this path," he said.
"We're committed to working to achieve a Palestinian state with the necessary guarantees for Israel's security and we've been working on that, including, as part of the potential normalisation process between Israel and Saudi Arabia - something that we've intensely engaged on over the last several months and weeks," Blinken continued.
The draft resolution, proposed by Algeria - representing the Arab nations on the Council - required nine out of 15 votes - and none of the five permanent members vetoing. Ultimately, 12 backed it, with the US against and abstentions from the UK and Switzerland.
Washington, widely predicted to use its veto to avoid recognising a Palestinian state, said that 'premature actions will not achieve statehood'. Ahead of the decision, Israel's representative claimed a vote in favour could be seen as a 'reward' for the 'perpetrators of atrocities', referring to the Hamas group.
Palestine has held observer status at the world body since 2012.
The vote comes as fighting continues in Gaza in the seventh month of the conflict. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
Palestinian officials reported that over 34,000 people had been killed at the time of publication. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response.
However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
Mandatory credit: US State Department
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied US involvement in an alleged Israeli attack on Iran during a press conference following a Group of 7 (G7) Foreign Ministers meeting in Capri on Friday.
"The United States has not been involved in any offensive operations," the secretary said. "Our focus has been on, of course, making sure that Israel can effectively defend itself, but also de-escalating tensions, avoiding conflict. That remains our focus."
According to media reports, Iranian officials have claimed there were no plans to respond, adding that the 'foreign source has not been confirmed' and the country had 'not received any external attack'. Israel has not commented.
Friday's reports came as Israel suggested it could retaliate after Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at the country last weekend. That action itself came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 - which Israel has not accepted responsibility for.
Israel's Western allies repeatedly warned against further strikes, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 'we will make our own decisions'.
"We've remained intensely focused on Gaza. We urge the rapid implementation of Israel's humanitarian assistance commitments; more aid, more crossings, better deconfliction, better distribution of the assistance to all who need it," Blinken added.
Blinken also defended the US's veto on full UN membership for Palestine at the UN Security Council, stating that 'this is not the time' to grant the territories state recognition.
"There is going to be a proper time, a rightful time for recognition. This is not that time. We need to do the diplomacy, we need to do the hard work to bring the parties together, to bring the region together and to demonstrate that there's a much better future that awaits everyone if they follow this path," he said.
"We're committed to working to achieve a Palestinian state with the necessary guarantees for Israel's security and we've been working on that, including, as part of the potential normalisation process between Israel and Saudi Arabia - something that we've intensely engaged on over the last several months and weeks," Blinken continued.
The draft resolution, proposed by Algeria - representing the Arab nations on the Council - required nine out of 15 votes - and none of the five permanent members vetoing. Ultimately, 12 backed it, with the US against and abstentions from the UK and Switzerland.
Washington, widely predicted to use its veto to avoid recognising a Palestinian state, said that 'premature actions will not achieve statehood'. Ahead of the decision, Israel's representative claimed a vote in favour could be seen as a 'reward' for the 'perpetrators of atrocities', referring to the Hamas group.
Palestine has held observer status at the world body since 2012.
The vote comes as fighting continues in Gaza in the seventh month of the conflict. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
Palestinian officials reported that over 34,000 people had been killed at the time of publication. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response.
However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.