what's the risk of further escalation in the middle east? it's your questions answered in 30 minutes. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. welcome to bbc news now. world leaders are calling for restraint on all sides after an apparent israeli air strike on iran. the g7 foreign ministers meeting in italy have urged all parties to work against any further escalation. where expecting to hear from the us secretary of state antony blinken any moment now. that is the same life as we wait for the secretary of state, antony blinken, to deliver remarks in the italian city of capri. two us officials have confirmed to our broadcast partner cbs news that it was an israeli attack.

state television in iran reported explosions near an army base and an airport in the central city of isfahan, activating local air defence systems. blasts have also been reported in the country's north—west. video online shows iranian defence missiles being fired into the air. commercial flights were initially diverted around iranian airspace, but iranian media say all restrictions have now been lifted. iran's state broadcaster irib downplayed reports of an attack. let's hear how the news was broken. translation: reliable sources emphasise that all nuclear - facilities and military centres in isfahan and all parts of the country are completely secure and no incident has occurred at these facilities and centres. now to reaction among members of the public, many of whom are expressing concern about escalation. let's hear from some people

on the streets of tehran. translation: they attacked our| consulate and iran responded but, in general, war across the globe is not a good thing. not only for us, but for the whole world. translation: what has an iranian child done to deserve being struckl by bombs and missiles? war is a destructive thing. it is troublesome for everyone. translation: in my opinion, if israel wants to attack our i country, our goal should be to defend our country- and israel holds no right to interfere with iran. i translation: in general, | we are not in favour of war. war is destructive. we are against it. we do not accept it, whether this side or that side launches the attack. we are not happy when people are killed, whether the iranians, israelis or gazans. let's ta ke let's take a look at some of the geography.

isfahan is the location of iran's nuclear sites. the international atomic energy agency has confirmed there is no damage to iran's nuclearfacilities. in a social media post, the agency's director—general, rafael mariano grossi, continued to call for extreme restraint from everybody and said nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. there has been no official comment from israel, but itamar ben—gvir, the far—right national security minister, has tweeted a single word after friday's strikes, "scarecrow!", meaning feeble in hebrew slang, suggesting that israel was behind the blasts in iran, but the action was insufficient. let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent james lansdale who's injerusalem. just bring it up on what you are hearing where you are? at just bring it up on what you are hearing where you are?- just bring it up on what you are hearing where you are? at the moment there is still no _ hearing where you are? at the moment there is still no official _ there is still no official confirmation from israel, where i am, for any responsibility, but as

you say, israeli politicians are beginning to comment on it, notjust itamar ben—gvir, whose tweet you just read out, but that has provoked a furious response from israel's opposition leader, yair lapid, who accused itamar ben—gvir of bringing huge damage to israel's security by bringing ridicule. essentially the argument yair lapid is making is that, by using that one word, by suggesting that israel's responses lame, itamar ben—gvir is undermining the message that israel wants to send, which is namely that yes, this might be a limited response, but it shows israel's capacity to strike deep into iranians territory and right next door to where iran's nuclear facilities are. there right next door to where iran's nuclearfacilities are. there is right next door to where iran's nuclear facilities are. there is a political dispute about that, but that clearly, we think, is intended by the strikes, if indeed it is eventually acknowledged by the israelis that they were responsible,

as everyone else is assuming. what as everyone else is assuming. what has been the _ as everyone else is assuming. what has been the reaction _ as everyone else is assuming. what has been the reaction on _ as everyone else is assuming. what has been the reaction on israel to the events of the overnight strikes? everything here is pretty calm. people are going about their business as normal, preparing for shabbat. they are preparing for the longer passover holiday that begins next week. the streets are full, people are driving around as normal. the authorities here, the civil authorities, have given no new instructions to civilians to prepare to go to shelters or anything like that. that said, some international... there is a certain amount of nervousness within the international community. australia has formally urged its citizens to leave. american authorities are again urging caution for american citizens. we know some international airlines have decided to cancel and suspend flights to israel. there is a degree, i think, of apprehension about precisely what may happen

next, simply because the stakes are so high. at the moment everybody is assuming this is a limited response by israel. we don't know that yet. we don't know if this is just the beginning of something or whether it is self—contained. there is still a lot of information we don't know about the events of this morning. indeed, a lot of unknowns. we are looking at the scene in capri while we chat, because we are waiting to hear from the us secretary of state, antony blinken. we heard earlier from italy's foreign minister, saying that the us was told of the attack by israel at the very last minute. has there been any reaction or response as to why that might have been the case?— or response as to why that might have been the case? israel always, in practical — have been the case? israel always, in practical terms, _ have been the case? israel always, in practicalterms, reserves - have been the case? israel always, in practical terms, reserves the - in practical terms, reserves the right to take its own decisions. i think there is a difference in theory, as much as practice, between informing the united states and seeking permission from the united

states. i think that is what that differentiation there is. i think what has been interesting so far this morning is that most of the international reaction, notjust the europeans and the americans, but also further afield around the world, most of the reaction has been simply to say, we need to de—escalate, we need calm heads, we need restraint. there has been no direct criticism or attribution of responsibility to israel. the one exception to that, comments made by oman, where they have very close relations with the iranians, and they have actually condemned what they have actually condemned what they said were israel's attacks on iran. i they said were israel's attacks on iran. ., ., . i. iran. i might have to cut you off there. iran. i might have to cut you off there- mr— iran. i might have to cut you off there. mr blank— iran. i might have to cut you off there. mr blank and _ iran. i might have to cut you off there. mr blank and is - iran. i might have to cut you off there. mr blank and isjust - iran. i might have to cut you off i there. mr blank and isjust taking there. mr blank and is just taking to the podium. mat there. mr blank and is 'ust taking to the podiumfi to the podium. not only the wonderful— to the podium. not only the wonderful hospitality - to the podium. not only the wonderful hospitality but i to the podium. not only the i wonderful hospitality but also their leadership. the g7 is in many ways a

steering committee for the world's most advanced democracies. we emerge from this meeting of foreign ministers, more united than ever. more united in facing critical challenges that lie before the international community, including russia's aggression against ukraine, the conflict in the middle east, and, as well, the importance of sustaining inaudible these and many other subjects with a focus of our conversations over the last few days which i found to be extremely productive.— last few days which i found to be extremely productive. again what strikes me the _ extremely productive. again what strikes me the most, _ extremely productive. again what strikes me the most, and - extremely productive. again what strikes me the most, and you i extremely productive. again what strikes me the most, and you canj strikes me the most, and you can really see this over the last three years, is the extraordinary convergence in our approaches to these challenges, convergence between the united states, europe, major partners in asia. let me touch on some of the most important things we discussed and concluded over this past couple of days. i

we discussed and concluded over this past couple of days.— past couple of days. i commend to ou the past couple of days. i commend to you the statement _ past couple of days. i commend to you the statement that _ past couple of days. i commend to you the statement that we - past couple of days. i commend to you the statement that we put i past couple of days. i commend to | you the statement that we put out, or will soon be out, on the part of the entire g7 festival the g7 condemned the unprecedented iranian attack on israel. unprecedented in scope and scale. scope because it was a direct attack on israel from iran, scaled because it evolved more than 300 ammunition, including ballistic missiles. we are committed to israel's security. we are also committed to de—escalating. to trying to bring this tension to a close. you saw, as well, or you will see soon in the g7 statement, a commitment to account, to account for its destabilising activities, holding it to account by degrading its missile and drone capabilities, and yesterday the united states announced additional sanctions on

iran, targeted programmes, the steel industry, companies that are associated with the irg sea, the ministry of defence, and its armed forces logistics. the g7 statement makes clear that g7 countries will adopt additional sanctions or other measures in the days ahead. even if we have been dealing the conflict in the middle east and again, the unprecedented attack by iran on israel, we have remained intensely focused on gaza. we urge the rapid implementation of israel's commitments and we are... more aid, law crossings, better distribution of the assistance to all who need it. we have seen important steps over the last few weeks with more crossings opening, more aid getting in, more aid getting around, but we need to see sustained results and we need, in particular, to make sure there is distribution throughout

gaza. we also focused on the imperative of getting to a ceasefire with release of hostages. such a ceasefire would facilitate dramatic expansion of assistance will stop it would let gazans return to the north, those who have been displaced. the only thing, the only thing standing between the gaza people and a ceasefire is hamas. it has rejected generous proposals from israel. it seems more interested in a regional conflict than it is in a ceasefire that would immediately improve the lives of palestinian people. it continues to move the goalposts and the world needs to know, needs to understand, again, that the only thing standing between a ceasefire is hamas. the g7 is clear in its unwavering support for ukraine, faced with aggression from russia. putin thinks he can outwit

ukraine and outwit ukraine's supporters. the message coming out of capri is that he can't. every g7 member is making extraordinary contributions to ukraine's defence was not as i said before this is the best burden sharing that i have ever seen across the atlantic, in more than 30 years of being engaged in theseissues than 30 years of being engaged in these issues were top europe, as well as asian partners, picking up more than their share of the load. i want to particularly recognise prime minister maloney, her decisive leadership,. we can see two things right now. together we are helping to put ukraine on a long—term path where it will stand on its own two feet militarily, economically, democratically. more than 30 countries are engaged in negotiating, and some have concluded negotiations with ukraine on security packs. and together, what i'm convinced will emerge from the

summit, you can see ukraine effectively building a force for the future, one that can deter aggression and defeat it as necessary. we are working to drive private sector investment into ukraine and help it develop its own defensive base in ways that will provide for a strong injury economy. now that the accession pass the he was open that will help ukraine deepen its democracy. even as we are doing all this we heard clearly from the foreign minister that it is imperative, that in this moment, ukraine get more resources that it needs to deal with the ongoing russian aggression. it needs more air defences, it needs more ammunitions, is more artillery. allies and partners, including the g7 countries, are committed to delivering on that. we discussed steps to provide more assistance

more immediately to ukraine. we also discussed ways to protect and help restore its energy grid, which russia has sought to decimate. here again i think we can see important steps that were already taken, but more to come in making sure that ukraine has sustainable energy for its people. we also to strengthen efforts to disrupt the transfer of weapons and also imports for russia's industrial base. when it comes to weapons it we have seen north korea and iran providing things to russia. when it comes back to russia's defence and industrial base, the primary contributor to thatis base, the primary contributor to that is china. we see china sharing matching tools, semiconductors that have helped russia rebuild the defence industrial base that sanctions and export controls had done so much to degrade. if china purports, on the one hand, to want good relations with europe and other countries, it can't come on the other hand, be fuelling what is the

biggest threat to european security since the end of the cold war. you don't have to take that from me, this is what i heard around the table at the g7. progress on solutions also to use russia's sovereign assets for ukraine was on the agenda. here i think we are working on getting to an agreement on that, consistent with international law, consistent with different country�* laws. the kremlin has called this theft. the real theft is in new crane in�*s life is taken, with so much of the infrastructure destroyed, and so much of this land seized. being able to use these russian sovereign assets to help rebuild ukraine is critical and it is also something that, one way or another, one day or another, is going to happen. it is

also a complement to, but not a substitute for, the assistance that we all need to be providing in the moment to ukraine, and in particular, the supplementary budget request that president biden has made and that it appears will be before the house this weekend. again ijust before the house this weekend. again i just want to emphasise two things. first, this money, and everything it will provide, it is urgently needed by ukraine, by its people, who are so bravely defending their country and defending their democracy. second, as i said, we have european and other partners, including in asia, who are doing so much themselves to help provide for ukraine. finally all of the supplemental will be invested in the united states, in defence production, in our own defence industrial base. that means good jobs in the united states. finally we focused intensely over these last couple of days on reaching out to

new partners, and this includes in the indo—pacific, where we are working to promote the free and open indo—pacific. i think it is very instructive that the support russia has received from china, from north korea, from iran, demonstrates that security in europe, security in asia and other parts of the world, are indivisible. they are deeply connected. this is something, again, that we heard around the table over these last couple of days. g7 is united and the need for peace and stability across the taiwan strait, south china sea, ukraine peninsula, and also united in standing up to china�*s unfair and nonmarket practices, especially when it comes to overcapacity— that is flooding the markets of our own countries with products and technologies that are heavily subsidised and so

underpriced, driving our own businesses out of the market and seeking to dominate these markets themselves. again this is a very clear and common concern among all of our countries. finally the other piece of this is that the g7 continues to work to deepen engagement with global partners, to help deliver results. we have the chair of the communion with us yesterday for a very good conversation and what we are really looking at is working in practical ways with countries in africa and beyond to make clear, tangible, deliverable improvement in the lives of their people, and as a result, the lives of our own people. we are particularly focused on how africa can play its rightful role in meeting both regional and global challenges. it has glowing collaboration on infrastructure, technology, to remove the improve

productivity, promote resilience. we have reaffirmed our commitment to sustainable development and especially to the sustainable develop in goals. also to reforming the international financial institutions, multilateral development banks, to make them both more representative and more effective and responsive to meeting the needs of countries around the world, addressing issues like climate change, debt, food security. in all these areas i found the conversations and the work over the last couple of days reflected in the statement that you will see, to be extremely productive and also, and most importantly, very good setup for the leaders that are meeting in june. that is what we are tracking towards and will continue the work we did here over the next couple of months and the leaders will follow up. with that, i am months and the leaders will follow up. with that, iam happy months and the leaders will follow up. with that, i am happy to take some

questions inaudible other strikes now over and you lnaumm — other strikes now over and you have any indication... other strikes now over and you have any indication. . ._ any indication... there are butcher department _ any indication... there are butcher department has — any indication... there are butcher department has made _ any indication... there are butcher i department has made recommendations to cut military aid, possible human rights violations. we take action on those recommendations? and the first question, the report you have seen, i am not in a speech that, except to say that the united states has not been involved in any

offensive operations. what we are focused on, what the g7 is focused on, and it is reflected in our statement and in our conversation, is our work to de—escalate tensions, to de—escalate from any potential conflict. you saw israel on the receiving end of an unprecedented attack, but ourfocus has been on, of course, making sure that israel can effectively defend itself but also de—escalating tensions, avoiding conflict. that remains our focus. again i am not to speak to anything other than to say we are not involved in any offensive operations. with regard to the other questions, first, on china and russia i think that what we are seeing is a product of the

relationship between those two countries. you heard them speak to it, includingjust countries. you heard them speak to it, including just before russia�*s aggression against ukraine. we made very clear to china, and many other countries have as well, that they should not be supplying russia with weapons for use in its aggression against ukraine. we have not seen the direct supply of weapons, but as i said, what we have seen is, not only the direct supply but the critical supply of inputs, of components of russia�*s industrial base, which is allowing two things. it is allowing wish to continue the offence against ukraine. it is helping russia overall rebuild its defence forces, and defence capacity, that so much damage has been dented by the ukrainians, but also by our sanctions and export controls. that means that not only is russia current threat to ukraine, it will remain an enduring threat to other european countries. that is why you said china can�*t have it both ways. it can�*t purport to want

to have positive, friendly relations with countries in europe, and at the same time, be fuelling the biggest threat to european security since the end of the cold war. that was very clear from our conversations around the table. i believe europeans have expressed that and will continue to express that, clearly, to china in the days and weeks ahead. i think your referring to the law and work under that. this a very important law and it is one that we apply across the board. when we are doing these investigations, these inquiries, it is something that takes time, it has to be done carefully, both in collecting the facts and analysing them. that is exactly what we have done and i think it is fair to say that you will see results very soon. i have made determinations and you can expect to see them in the days

ahead. ., . ~' expect to see them in the days ahead. ., a , ., , expect to see them in the days ahead. ., , ., , ahead. two quick questions. do you have the feeling _ ahead. two quick questions. do you have the feeling that... _ have the feeling that... inaudible iam not i am not going to speak to these reported events. bill i am not going to speak to these reported events.— reported events. all i can say is that, for reported events. all i can say is that. for our— reported events. all i can say is that, for our part, _ reported events. all i can say is that, for our part, and - reported events. all i can say is that, for our part, and for i reported events. all i can say is that, for our part, and for the l that, for our part, and for the entire g7, ourfocus has been on de—escalation, on avoiding a large conflict. actually that has been true since day one, after the

horrific events of october seven. a big part of our approach has been to prevent the conflict from spreading, to avoid escalation everywhere, and thatis to avoid escalation everywhere, and that is a common policy across the g7. that is very much our approach was that we have been engaged in efforts to avoid escalation. those efforts to avoid escalation. those efforts will continue. italy plays a critical role in this is a leading country, as a country that is engaged around the world with many other countries have their own relationships with countries involved in the middle east. italy has its own direct engagement and i think what we have seen over the past ten days or so, of weeks, is that those engagements have been, and remain, very important to keeping things calm, pointing escalation, to preventing larger conflicts. italy is an important player in this. fin

conflicts. italy is an important player in thia— player in this. on the iran question- _ player in this. on the iran question. it _ player in this. on the iran question. it seems i player in this. on the iran question. it seems that l player in this. on the iran i question. it seems that both of player in this. on the iran - question. it seems that both of the israeli _ question. it seems that both of the israeli and — question. it seems that both of the israeli and is regularly response and were — israeli and is regularly response and were measured and calculated. would _ and were measured and calculated. would you — and were measured and calculated. would you say that now we are averting — would you say that now we are averting a _ would you say that now we are averting a major confrontation and a possible _ averting a major confrontation and a possible war, and what messages would _ possible war, and what messages would the — possible war, and what messages would the us play in sending to both sides for— would the us play in sending to both sides for restraint, and are we back to the _ sides for restraint, and are we back to the proxy— sides for restraint, and are we back to the proxy war? if you allow me, the us— to the proxy war? if you allow me, the us position is clear. you are opposed — the us position is clear. you are opposed to _ the us position is clear. you are opposed to military operation in rafah, — opposed to military operation in rafah, as — opposed to military operation in rafah, as long as there is no plan to evacuate — rafah, as long as there is no plan to evacuate 1.5 million palestinian civilians — to evacuate 1.5 million palestinian civilians. the israeli government is adamant _ civilians. the israeli government is adamant to— civilians. the israeli government is adamant to go ahead. what is your understanding of the plan now and what is _ understanding of the plan now and what is acceptable for the us? and finally, _ what is acceptable for the us? and finally, on — what is acceptable for the us? and finally, on the un security council, the united — finally, on the un security council, the united states, your allies, close — the united states, your allies, close allies, france, japan and south — close allies, france, japan and south korea, both voted for admitting palestine as a member. lsraelis. _ admitting palestine as a member. israelis, including netanyahu, say theyare _

israelis, including netanyahu, say they are opposed to a two state solution — they are opposed to a two state solution. what is the path forward and what — solution. what is the path forward and what message do you give to palestinians and to moderates in the region. _ palestinians and to moderates in the region. it— palestinians and to moderates in the region, if you truly want to isolate extremists? thank you.— region, if you truly want to isolate extremists? thank you. thank you for the questions — extremists? thank you. thank you for the questions. let _ extremists? thank you. thank you for the questions. let me _ extremists? thank you. thank you for the questions. let me repeat - extremists? thank you. thank you for the questions. let me repeat what i the questions. let me repeat what our focus has been, the questions. let me repeat what ourfocus has been, and what it remains. de—escalation, avoiding conflict, and so yes, calling on all concerned to exercise restraint. that is what we have been doing over the last couple of weeks, and as necessary, that is what we will continue to do. again that is reflected in the statement you will see coming from all of the g7 countries. we have been very clear about this. president biden has been very clear about this. we cannot support a major military operation in rafah. first there are currently around 1.4 million people in rafah, many of them displaced from other parts of gaza. in the first instance

it is imperative that people are able to get out of the way of any conflict and, doing that, getting people of harm�*s way, is a monumental task, for which we have yet to see a plan. not only getting them the harm �*s way, making sure they can supported with assistance, if they are out of harms way. second, even if people are largely out of harm�*s way, inevitably there will be a significant population in rafah and we believe a major military operation, with a large presence of the civilian population, would have terrible consequences for the population. we are committed, as israel is, to ensuring that gaza cannot be controlled by ms word mac. we have seen the devastation and destruction that has resulted from hamas leadership and the actions it has taken, well before october the

7th. whether it was pride, or not providing, for the palestinian people, make sure its concern was nothing to do with the palestinian people, and everything to do with its objectives to destroy israel. so making sure that her mass word mac cannot repeat the events of october the 7th, that is something we are united in. but in terms of major military operations in rafah, it is something that we don�*t support, and we believe the objective can be achieved by other means. we have been engaged with israel in the past weeks over this and those conversations continue. on the un security council resolution, first the united states is committed to achieving a palestinian state. we believe that is vital to have a long—term sustainable, durable peace and security and it is the only way

to fulfil the rightful aspirations of the palestinian people, but getting to that has to be done through diplomacy, not through imposition. the resolution that was voted at the security council will have no effect on moving things forward and achieving a palestinian state. there can only be accomplished by diplomatic means. under united states law even if we wanted to vote for this resolution, had we done so under our law it would have obligated us to cut off all of our funding to the united nations, clearly not in the interests of anyone, including the palestinians when you think about the contributions we make to programmes that are vital for them. we are committed to achieving the palestinian state with the necessary guarantees for israeli security. we have been working on that as part of

the potential