AMMAN: Foreign Minister of Jordan Ayman Safadi on Wednesday said that an Israeli retaliation against Iranian strikes could drag the entire region of the Middle East into a devastating war.
Safadi, in an interview released with state media, said Amman was lobbying major countries against an escalation that would have far-reaching impacts on regional stability and security.
He added the Israeli plans could drag the whole region into war, which would be devastating not only for the region but for the rest of the world including the U.S.
He warned that the situation is too dangerous and the chances of regional war are real.
Earlier, Jordan, with the support of American air defenses and the UK and France, shot down most of the Iranian drones and missiles that were flying from its airspace toward Jerusalem targeting Israel.
Pressure should be on Israel
Safadi said the pressure should be on Israel not to escalate, saying Iran had said it attacked in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on its diplomatic mission in Damascus on April 1.
The foreign minister went on to say Jordan is in the middle of the fire, so both parties have to understand that it will do whatever it can to protect its people and to prevent this escalation.
He warned that Jordan would act firmly in the event of another flare-up and would not allow both parties to use it as a battlefield.
Safadi said Jordan will take down any projectiles that threaten its people and violate its sovereignty. He said Amman has already made this clear to both Israel and Iran.
The Jordanian foreign minister alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was using the confrontation with Iran to divert global attention from Gaza.
He said Israel should not be allowed to drag the US and other major Western powers into a war with Iran.
