US told Iran it had no involvement or advance knowledge of consulate strike in Syria, US official says

Washington
CNN
 — 

The US instructed Iran it was not concerned and had no advance information of Monday’s strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, a US official mentioned.

The communication comes amid concern concerning the struggle between Israel and Hamas widening to a broader regional battle. Iran has vowed retaliation after a strike it blamed on Israel killed two of its prime commanders and 5 others at its consulate in Syria.

“The US had no involvement within the strike and we didn’t find out about it forward of time,” a Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson mentioned.

The US has “communicated this on to Iran,” the US official mentioned.

Axios first reported the US communication to Iran.

On Monday, the State Division mentioned the US was gathering extra details about Monday’s strike in Damascus however expressed issues about any additional regional battle.

“Earlier than now we have gathered details about what precisely this was, I don’t wish to communicate to it, particularly, however in fact we have been at all times involved about something that might be escalatory or trigger a rise in battle within the area,” mentioned State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Iran’s International Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has extensively held the US liable for the assault and mentioned “the US ought to be answerable.” Amir-Abdollahian mentioned Iran’s International Ministry summoned the Swiss chargé d’affaires in Tehran early hours Tuesday native time to debate the incident, given Switzerland’s function in representing US pursuits in Iran.

The US has accused Iran of supporting proxy assaults on US and Western targets for the reason that outbreak of the Israel-Hamas struggle. In January, a drone assault killed three American troopers at a US outpost in Jordan, which the US attributed to the Iran-backed umbrella group Islamic Resistance in Iraq, although the incident caught Tehran without warning and nervous political management there, officers instructed CNN on the time, citing US intelligence.