President Joe Biden informed reporters on Friday that Israel has not yet determined its course of action in response to Iran’s missile strike, indicating that the matter is still under consideration. During his statements in the White House briefing room, the president expressed that if he were in Israel’s position, he would contemplate alternatives beyond targeting oil fields. When pressed for his views on Israel’s potential response, Biden remarked that such decisions are ultimately between him and Israeli officials. He also noted that he believes the strategy he proposed has garnered support from the U.N. Security Council and a significant majority of global allies as a means to resolve the situation. Biden acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself against the severe assaults it faces, not only from Iran but also from groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis. However, he emphasized the necessity for Israel to exercise greater caution to minimize civilian casualties in their response.
Earlier this week, President Biden expressed his opposition to Israel targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. His recent comments followed a statement made the previous day, in which he indicated that the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iranian oil installations was “under discussion,” leading to a surge in oil prices due to concerns over a potential disruption in global supply. “I believe that would be somewhat — well, anyway,” Biden remarked at that time, emphasizing that Israel would ultimately determine its course of action in response to Iran’s significant missile assault. Shortly thereafter, he stated, “I understand the importance of not negotiating in public” when questioned about whether he had advised Israel against attacking Iran’s oil infrastructure.