Blinken says Iran could attack Israel in next 24 hours

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his counterparts from the G7 countries on Sunday that an attack by Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah against Israel could start as early as Monday, three sources briefed on the call tell Axios, according to the information.

Blinken convened the conference call to coordinate with close US allies and try to generate last-minute diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah to minimize their retaliation as much as possible. He stressed that limiting the impact of their strikes is the best chance to prevent all-out war.

Blinken said the US doesn't know the exact timing of the attacks but stressed it could start as early as the next 24-48 hours — meaning as early as Monday, the sources said.

The secretary of state told his counterparts the US is making efforts to break the escalatory cycle by trying to limit the attacks by Iran and Hezbollah as much as possible and then restrain the Israeli response.

Blinken asked the other foreign ministers to apply diplomatic pressure on Iran, Hezbollah and Israel to maintain maximum restraint.