The US State Department said on Monday that it had sent a message to Iran that escalation was not in its interest, in light of the possibility that an Iranian response to the Israeli assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last Wednesday was imminent.

In response to a question from a Quds.com correspondent about whether Iran reserves the right to self-defense, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, "The issue is not a matter of right, but rather is it in Iran's interest and the region's interest to avenge Haniyeh's assassination? Calming down and moving away from the abyss is what is in Iran's interest and the region's interest."

Miller said that his government is conducting intensive dialogues to reduce the escalation and move away from the cycle of violence, stressing that his country was not aware of the assassination or involved in it.

Miller said Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a "consistent message" of de-escalation and de-escalation in the Middle East.

Miller explained that Blinken spoke to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty about the tension in the Middle East.

"It is important that all parties take steps in the coming days to de-escalate and de-escalate tensions," the State Department spokesman added.

Tensions in the region have been rising following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Wednesday.

Haniyeh's assassination came a day after an Israeli raid in Beirut killed Fouad Shukr, a senior military commander in Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Fears are growing that Israel's war on Palestinian militants in Gaza since October could escalate into a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Iran and Hamas accuse Israel of assassinating Haniyeh, and have vowed revenge along with Hezbollah. Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for Haniyeh's assassination.

Axios reported that Blinken told his counterparts from the G7 countries on Sunday that an attack by Iran and Hezbollah on Israel could begin within 24 hours.

Blinken held a conference call to coordinate with close US allies and try to exert final diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah to limit their response as much as possible, stressing that this is "the best chance to prevent a full-scale war."

Axios reported that Blinken confirmed that the United States believes that Iran and Hezbollah will respond together.

The United States has strengthened its military system in the region, deploying more warships and fighter jets to protect its soldiers and its ally, Israel.

Miller stressed that the United States will defend its ally Israel as it did in repelling the Iranian attack on April 13.

A White House official said on Sunday that the United States is deploying additional military force to the Middle East as a defensive measure aimed at easing tensions in the region.

There are growing fears that Israel's 10-month-old war on the Gaza Strip could escalate into a wider conflict in the Middle East. Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for Haniyeh's killing in the Iranian capital, and have vowed, along with Hezbollah, to avenge it. Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility, but there is little doubt that Israel was behind the assassination.