Biden, European leaders tell Iran to ‘stand down’: Joint statement

US President Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain issued a joint statement on Monday urging Iran to “stand down” its threats of an attack on Israel.

“We called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel and discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place,” the leaders said after speaking together by phone.

The Middle East has been on high alert since the late July assassinations of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran and its regional proxies, including Lebanese Hezbollah, have blamed Israel for these attacks and vowed to retaliate.

While Israel has confirmed responsibility for Shukr’s killing, it has not acknowledged involvement in Haniyeh’s death.