Biden Refrains from Public Negotiation on Israel’s Position Regarding Iranian Oil Sites, According to Reuters
By Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden stated on Thursday that he will not engage in public negotiations regarding whether he has advised Israel against targeting Iran’s oil facilities.
Importance of the Situation
Israel is currently considering its response to a ballistic missile attack from Tehran that occurred on Tuesday. The U.S. announced that it would collaborate with Israel to ensure that Iran faces serious consequences for its actions.
Earlier in the day, Biden’s comments about the potential for U.S. strikes on Iran’s oil facilities contributed to a rise in global oil prices. Following these remarks, a U.S. official indicated that Washington does not believe Israel has made a definitive decision on how to respond to Iran.
Biden clarified on Wednesday that the U.S. does not endorse any Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Key Statements
"I don’t negotiate in public," Biden told reporters when asked if he had discouraged Israel from attacking Iran’s oil facilities.
When questioned about concerns that an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil facilities might trigger a rise in oil prices, he responded, "If a hurricane hits, prices are going to go up. I don’t know; who knows."
Biden was also queried about his lack of recent communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He explained: "Because there’s no action going on right now."
Context
In the midst of escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in almost 2,000 deaths in Lebanon, the majority occurring within the past two weeks, and have displaced over 1.2 million people. This week, Israel launched a ground incursion into Lebanon, stating its objective is to defeat Hezbollah and enable the return of approximately 60,000 evacuated Israelis to their homes in the north.
Simultaneously, Israel is engaged in a conflict in Gaza that has claimed nearly 42,000 lives, with almost the entire population of 2.3 million displaced. This situation escalated following a deadly attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7.