US received 'last minute' warning, but was not involved in drone attack on Iran, officials say
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 鈥渓ast minute鈥� information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, Italy鈥檚 foreign minister said.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who chaired the meeting of ministers of industrialized countries, said the United States provided the information at a Friday morning session that was changed at the last minute to address the suspected attack.
Early Friday, Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, part of an apparent Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran鈥檚 unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country last weekend.
Tajani said the U.S. informed the G7 ministers that it had been 鈥渋nformed at the last minute鈥� by Israel about the drones. 鈥淏ut there was no sharing of the attack by the U.S. It was a mere information.鈥�
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined to comment on the assertion, but emphasized that the U.S. was not involved in any attack.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to speak to that except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations,鈥� Blinken said.
In a communique following the three-day meeting, the ministers urged the parties 鈥渢o prevent further escalation.鈥�
Video below: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on Israel attack on Iran
The statement pledged support for Israel鈥檚 security and condemned 鈥渋n the strongest terms鈥� what the foreign ministers described as Iran鈥檚 鈥渦nprecedented attack against Israel of April 13-14, which Israel defeated with the help of its partners,鈥� as well as the seizure of the Portuguese-flagged vessel MSC Aries in the Strait of Hormuz.
鈥淲e stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures, now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives,鈥� the document read.
The group also warned Iran against transferring ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia.
On the war in Gaza, the group called on Hamas to release hostages and reminded Israel to respect international and humanitarian law.
It added that G7 countries remained opposed to 鈥渁 full scale military operation in Rafah that would have catastrophic consequences on the civilian population," and called for increasing the flow of aid into Gaza.
"The G7 worked and will work for a de-escalation,鈥� Tajani said in a closing press conference. He said that would include a de-escalation of tensions, followed by a cease-fire, liberation of hostages and aid to the Palestinian people.
