TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called on Iran to use its influence to prevent the spillover of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip into the entire West Asia region.

Josep Borrell said that he had a telephone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, during which they discussed the situation in the blockaded Palestinian territory, which is under heavy Israeli bombardment.

“EU position is clear on condemning terrorism. And on the protection of civilians at all times,” he wrote in a post on his X account on Tuesday.

“It is in everyone’s interest to prevent a regional spillover. Urged Iran to use its influence to avoid regional escalation,” he added.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group waged a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

Hamas said that its operation came in response to Israel’s violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds and growing Israeli settler violence.

Israel has killed 2,866 Palestinians and wounded 12,000 others in its relentless airstrikes. It has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal sliver into a humanitarian crisis.

SD/PressTV