WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday  hosted Iraq’s leader at the White House, as his administration aims to prevent escalation in Mideast hostility following Iran’s weekend attack on Israel.

Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was visiting for a discussion intended to focus primarily on U.S.-Iraq relations, scheduled well before the attack.

Biden hailed the “unprecedented military effort to defend Israel.”

But Saturday’s drone and missile launches underscored a delicate relationship between Washington and Baghdad.

Speaking at the start of the meeting in the Oval Office, Biden reinforced that the U.S. remains committed to Israel’s security, and hailed U.S.'s “unprecedented military effort to defend Israel.”

“Our partnership is pivotal for our nations, the Middle East and the world,” Biden told al-Sudani, who noted the discussion comes at a “sensitive time.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Tamim before Biden’s session, said the U.S. is urging all parties to avoid escalation.

“In the 36 hours since (at attack), we have been coordinating a diplomatic response to seek to prevent escalation,” Blinken said. “Strength and wisdom need to be different sides of the same coin.”

Tamim said the Iraqi government is equally concerned.

“The Middle East today is living in exceptional circumstances that have repercussions on our nations, and we hope escalations and tensions in the area will end,” he said.

Monday’s talks also addressed economic, trade and energy issues that have become a major priority for Iraq’s government. Biden praised al-Sudani for strengthening Iraq’s economy.

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