The United States and France are calling on relevant countries to prevent an escalation of conflict in the Middle East after the assassination of a top Hamas leader in Iran.

Iran expressed its intention to retaliate against Israel and sought the understanding of Islamic nations in an emergency foreign ministers meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The OIC has 57 members in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Wednesday that the US had spoken with a number of OIC members who were at the meeting. He said they share the US opinion that escalation would only exacerbate the problems facing the region.
Miller said the US hopes the countries at the meeting would impress this opinion upon Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron held separate phone talks on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The French presidential office said Macron expressed concern over the rising tensions in the region, and requested the leaders to prevent a cycle of retaliation.

Iran's presidential office said Pezeshkian responded that within the framework of international treaties and laws, Iran will never remain silent if the country faces attacks on its interests and security.

The office said Pezeshkian stressed that Western nations should convince Israel to stop genocide to prevent a worsening of the situation in the region.