Vatican expresses 'deep concern' about potential Mideast conflict escalation

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Monday expressed deep concern about rising tensions in the Middle East in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasizing the importance of negotiations to resolve the conflict.

During a phone call, the two discussed issues of common interest, while Parolin congratulated Pezeshkian on his new term in the office, Vatican News reported.

Cardinal Parolin also voiced the Vatican's deep concern over the risk of widening the war to other Middle Eastern regions and hoped that dialogue, negotiation, and peace would prevail.

At the concluding session of last Wednesday's General Audience, Pope Francis reiterated his concern over the situation in the Middle East and his appeal to all the parties involved that the conflict may not spread, and "there may be an immediate cease-fire on all fronts, starting with Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious and unsustainable."

Tensions are running high in the Middle East following the July 31 assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital of Tehran and Israel's assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, while Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

Iran vowed "harsh punishment" for Israel in retaliation for Haniyeh’s killing on Iranian soil.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese group, is also expected to retaliate after Israel assassinated Shukr in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on July 30.

The escalation comes amid an ongoing Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians following an attack on Oct. 7 by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, that killed 1,139 Israelis.