The statement drew immediate outrage in Washington, prompting senior members of Congress to question future U.S. military aid.

'Never in the history of warfare have I seen such an effort by one of the protagonists in a war to lessen the effect on the population of the other side,' Graham said.

Blinken defended the nuclear deal signed with Iran in 2015, saying that Iran would have to come back into compliance with it.

Trump's nominee for secretary of defense maintains that the capital of Israel is Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem - despite statements to the contrary by the president-elect.