US delegation secretly visits Iran to warn against escalating conflict with Israel "Don’t play Netanyahu’s game"

In a bid to de-escalate rising regional tensions, US officials reportedly made a covert visit to Iran, cautioning against a major conflict with Israel, Caliber.Az reports, citing a Kuwaiti newspaper.

On August 1, a US delegation secretly left Türkiye on a private plane and travelled to Iran. The plane landed in the city of Karan, near Tehran, where it held a two-hour meeting with Iranian intelligence and foreign policy officials.

During the meeting, the US side said: "Netanyahu wants a big regional war. He wants to destroy Iran. Don't fall for the ruse. Don't attack Israel and don't play Netanyahu's game".

It was also stated that the US did not know about the assassination attempt on Ismail Haniyeh and that Biden does not want to go to war with Iran.

"If you attack Israel, we will defend it. But we don't want a big war," they stated.

The reason for Iran's potential escalation of conflict with Israel is linked to the asssassination of the Palestinian military group Hamas's head of politbureau Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran on July 31.

This killing took place while Haniyeh was attending an official event, notably the inauguration of Iran's new president, making his presence highly publicized. The exact details of how Haniyeh was killed remain unclear, with various reports suggesting different methods, including a missile strike or an explosive device.

The assassination provoked strong reactions from Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, as well as the Foreign Ministry and Parliament. Iranian media echoed these sentiments, displaying images of Haniyeh with messages promising retaliation.

Iranian authorities have arrested numerous high-ranking officials from their security agencies, underscoring the seriousness of the security breach.

As the political leader of Hamas, Haniyeh's death is a significant blow to the organization. Hamas and other Palestinian groups, such as Islamic Jihad, are expected to coordinate a response, potentially escalating tensions in the region.

Hezbollah, an ally of both Iran and Hamas, has also vowed to respond to Israeli actions, further increasing the likelihood of a coordinated retaliatory strike.