During a Friday morning press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the Biden administration’s response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, specifically regarding reports of strikes between Israel and Iran. She stated that there was no comment on the reports at that time but assured that President Biden was kept informed about the unrest in the region. The conflict stemmed from Iran firing missiles and drones at Israel, leading to Israel responding with limited strikes on Iran. Jean-Pierre emphasized that the White House aimed to prevent further escalation of the conflict and was consulting with allies to reduce the risk of further violence.
Fox News confirmed reports of explosions in Iran’s Isfahan province, where Natanz, one of Iran’s nuclear facilities, is located. There were no mentions of the Israeli strikes made by Iranian President, despite previous threats of complete destruction. The White House reiterated its stance of not wanting to see the conflict escalate in the Middle East and highlighted efforts to engage with allies and partners in the region to prevent further escalation. Secretary Blinken, who was part of the G-7 Foreign Ministry’s joint statement, also emphasized the importance of de-escalating tensions and avoiding conflicts in the region.
When questioned about whether the U.S. had been informed by Israel ahead of their counter strike, Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the diplomatic conversations. She also refrained from discussing any reports or speculations regarding the events. Despite longstanding relationships between the U.S., Israel, and President Biden’s response to any potential Iranian retaliation, Jean-Pierre maintained her stance of not making any comments on the reported events. The United States denied any involvement in the strike and focused on de-escalating tensions, avoiding conflicts, and ensuring Israel’s ability to defend itself effectively.
Following Israel’s limited retaliatory strike on Iran, reports on Iranian state media downplayed the strikes, with a military source indicating that the strikes were limited in nature. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi stated that the explosion in Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object, causing no damage. Iranian officials also indicated that Tehran had no immediate plans for a counterstrike. Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized their commitment to defending themselves and making decisions independently, despite suggestions and advice from foreign leaders.
Former Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus noted that Israel would do whatever it needed to defend itself, while also signaling to Iran that they had received the message following the retaliatory strike. The Israeli government has remained relatively quiet throughout the escalating tensions with Iran. The U.S. maintained its focus on de-escalating tensions, avoiding conflicts, and ensuring Israel’s effective defense while refraining from offensive operations. The situation in the Middle East remained tense, with both sides showing restraint and a desire to prevent further escalation and conflict in the region.
