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Israel, Saudi Arabia And Pakistan Not Keen On Involvement In Iran-US Confrontation


Benjamin Netanyahu. FILE PHOTO.
Benjamin Netanyahu. FILE PHOTO.

Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday distanced Israel from Soleimani's killing while Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia said the kingdom does not want to see further escalation of tension in the region and Pakistan announced it will not take sides in the escalating confrontation between Iran and the U.S.

In a cabinet meeting on Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the killing of Iran's Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani was an American event and "should better left as such", Haarez reported.

According to the Israeli newspaper, Israeli defense officials told security cabinet ministers Monday that the likelihood of an Iranian response against Israel is low as of now.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia said on Monday that his country does not want to see further escalation of tensions in the region.

“We are very keen that the situation in the region doesn’t escalate any further. It’s certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security,” Reuters quoted him as saying at a news briefing in Riyadh on Monday.

The Saudi foreign minister also called on all actors to take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation.

The Foreign Minister of Iran's neighbor Pakistan, Shah Mehmood, on Monday also expressed his country's wish to remain out of the current conflict between Iran and the U.S. over the killing of Iran's Soleimani last Friday.

According to a Reuters ​ report, Shah Mehmood told the upper house of parliament in a policy statement on Monday that "Pakistan’s soil will not be used against any other state, and nor will Pakistan become a part of this regional conflict”.

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