A spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he spoke by phone on Monday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and urged for de-escalation in the Middle East.

Scholz expressed concerns over the risk of an all-out regional conflict. He called for an end to "the spiral of violence" and asked Pezeshkian to do everything in his power to prevent it.

Pezeshkian's office said he told Scholz that Iran seeks to solve problems through dialogue. However, he said any country that suffers an attack has the right to respond.

The call comes in the wake of the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh last month in Tehran. Iranian authorities have blamed Israel for carrying out the killing.

Scholz and his counterparts in France and the UK said they were ready to kick-start talks between Israel and Hamas. They issued a joint statement on Monday, saying time is running out for a peaceful solution and urging Iran and its allies to refrain from any attacks that would add to tensions.

Officials in Washington believe an attack may be imminent. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters on Monday that new intelligence suggests an Iranian-backed retaliatory strike "could happen as soon as this week." He added that officials do not know the exact timing but that it could impact ceasefire talks the US is calling for on Thursday.