The world is in suspense. Iraq appeals to the US, Azerbaijan distances itself from Israel, Great Britain sends warplanes

The government in Baghdad called on US authorities on Saturday to stop violations of Iraqi security airspace by Israeli planes attacking Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baku assured on the same day that it would never allow Israel to exploit Azerbaijani territory to attack Iran.

"The Iraqi government calls on the United States to fulfill its obligations arising from a bilateral agreement and preventing aircraft from Zionist entity again violating Iraqi airspace" - Baghdad authorities said in a statement.

Azerbaijan "will never allow its territory to be used to attack third countries, including friendly Iran" — Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said in telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Aragchi.

Bayramov warned that the conflict between Israel and Iran is threatening spreading throughout the region and called for diplomatic efforts in in order to stop further escalation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baku said after the conversation.

Iraq closed its airspace on Friday morning, shortly after Israel launched massive attacks on Iran. Israel declares that attacked Iranian nuclear and military facilities in a preemptive strike to eliminate the threat from this country. Through the Iraqi space air is the shortest route from Israel to Iran.

Mostly Shiite Azerbaijan has strong ties with Israel economic and security. The country bordering Iran is the main supplier oil to Israel, which in turn sells weapons to Azerbaijan.

In turn, the relations between Baku and Tehran are complex and complicated. these include historical events and the large Azeri minority in Iran, as well as different directions of foreign policies of both countries.

There have been reports of a close relationship in the media for a long time. intelligence cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel, which would be aimed at Tehran and speculation that Azeri military bases could be used by the Israeli army to attack Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to sabotage the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a conversation with Iranian President Masoud Peshekovskyi on Saturday.

During the telephone conversation, Erdogan strongly condemned "Israel's unlawful attacks on Iran and expressed condolences to the Iranian people for the loss of life," the Turkish leader's press office said.

Erdogan stressed that “the attacks are a clear violation of international law and are aimed at drawing the entire region into the conflict.” The Turkish president also noted that Israel is “trying to distract the world from the genocide in the Gaza Strip by attacking Iran.”

The president assured Pezeshkian that Türkiye was closely monitoring developments regarding a potential nuclear leak at the Natanz facility following the Israeli attack.

Since April, the United States and Iran have held five rounds of talks on a deal that would curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions on Tehran. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said Thursday that the sixth round of talks would be held Sunday in his country's capital, Muscat. On Saturday, Oman's Foreign Ministry announced the cancellation of Sunday's talks. The Iranians reportedly refused to participate in them because of Israel's objections.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called on Iranian authorities to "quickly return to the negotiating table" on de-escalation in the Middle East and on Iran's nuclear program.

“The issue of the Iranian nuclear program is serious and must be resolved through negotiations,” Macron wrote on X after a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Peshehkian.

Macron also called for the release of two French citizens held hostage by the regime in Tehran for three years. He also demanded that French citizens and facilities in Iran and the region "not be targeted in any way."

The French president called on Pesheshkian "to quickly return to the negotiating table in order to reach an agreement, which is the only possible way to de-escalate the situation," pledging assistance in this process.

Following Israel's attack on Iran, Macron convened a meeting of the National Security Council on Friday, saying Israel has the right to ensure its own security.

That same day, the president said Iran “bears grave responsibility” for the destabilization in the region. He stressed that Paris had not participated in Israeli attacks on Iran and “does not share this approach and the need for a military operation.”

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has ordered prefects to strengthen security measures in the country due to the escalation of the armed conflict between Israel and Iran.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul believes that the danger of further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East "is real", and that Iran's nuclear program poses a threat not only to Israel, but also to Saudi Arabia and the stability of the entire region.

"In the current situation, we cannot lose sight of the Gaza Strip," the head of German diplomacy emphasized during his visit to Saudi Arabia, quoted on Platform X by the German Foreign Ministry. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic, the minister added.

"A ceasefire requires a common perspective on the period after it. The Arab Reconstruction Plan is an important basis," Wadephul said.

The ARD news portal tagesschau quotes Wadephul as saying, after a meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh with his counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, in the context of the armed conflict between Israel and Iran: "I am in favor of de-escalation and finding a way out of further military confrontation."

"A further escalation of the situation would have incalculable consequences. That is why I would like to appeal to everyone: as is often said, it is not too late," Wadephul said. "This region needs peace, not escalation of armed conflicts," he added.

Britain is sending combat aircraft to the Middle East to support security in the region, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday.

“We are moving resources into the region, including aircraft to provide emergency support,” Starmer said aboard a plane bound for Canada for the three-day G7 summit, which begins Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta.

As Reuters recalled, British warplanes are already present in the Middle East as part of an operation aimed at countering threats in Iraq and Syria.

Starmer said he had spoken to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel launched attacks on Iran on Friday, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy was in contact with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Aragchi.

“The reports of attacks are worrying and we call on all parties to withdraw and urgently reduce tensions,” Starmer said on Friday. In his opinion, “stability in the Middle East must be the priority.” (PAP)