Jordan's foreign minister to Tehran on rare visit
Against the backdrop of a feared military escalation between Iran and Israel, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi traveled to Tehran for a rare visit. There, he met with his counterpart, Ali Bagheri, on Sunday. Meanwhile, Jordan's King Abdullah II warned of "more chaos" in the Middle East.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry stated that Safadi's visit to Tehran was to "exchange views with Iranian representatives on bilateral, regional, and international issues." Safadi would also deliver a message from King Abdullah II to the Iranian president about "the situation in the region and bilateral relations." Previously, according to the palace, Abdullah had urged France's President Emmanuel Macron to prevent "more chaos" in the Middle East during a telephone conversation. Jordan is an important partner of the US in the Middle East. In 1994, Jordan signed a peace treaty with its neighbor, Israel. Now, according to the reports, Abdullah stressed to Macron that "one-sided actions by Israel that fuel violence must stop."
Safadi's visit to Tehran and Abdullah's statements came against the backdrop of the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh during a visit to Tehran on Wednesday, on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Iranian president, Massoud Peseschkian. Iran, the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, which it supports, and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia hold Israel responsible for the assassination and have threatened retaliation. Israel's army and government have not commented on Haniyeh's assassination.
Since Haniyeh's assassination, Iran has consulted with several Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Oman, and Qatar. Tehran has repeatedly reaffirmed its "inherent right" to take measures against Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country is prepared for "any scenario at the highest level - both defensively and offensively."
Hours before Haniyeh's assassination, Israel killed Fuad Shukr, the military chief of the Hezbollah militia supported by Tehran, in an attack in Lebanon. Israel held him responsible for the rocket attack on the occupied Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers over the weekend.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry explained that Safadi's visit to Tehran was outlined as a means to "discuss various topics, including bilateral matters, regional concerns, and international affairs" with Iranian representatives. Following Haniyeh's assassination, Safadi and Jordan's King Abdullah II expressed concerns about the potential for "further instability" in the Middle East.
