President Joe Biden has declined to support planned Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities.
When asked during a White House press conference, President Biden suggested Israel consider alternate options.
“Well, look, the Israelis have not concluded how they’re — what they’re going to do in terms of a strike,” said Biden. “That’s under discussion. I think there are — if I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields.”
Biden has prioritized a de-escalatory approach to Israel’s response to Iranian aggression.
Israel has been planning a response to Iran’s recent missile attack.
Iran’s missile attacks follow Israel’s military operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
While continuing to fight Hamas in Gaza, Israel has recently shifted military assets to Northern Israel to diminish Hezbollah’s capacity to inflict harm on Israeli civilians.
Over the last few days, Israel has eliminated crucial Hezbollah weapons’ stockpiles and killed senior Hezbollah leaders, including its top leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Conservative lawmakers have criticized Biden’s middle east policy, claiming it burden’s Israel with behavior that would be unexpected of other states.
US Representative Brian Mast (R-FL), who has previously collaborated with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), demeaned Biden’s de-escalatory approach.
“If Canada and Mexico launched rockets into our country like Iran and its proxies are doing to Israel, we would not focus on de-escalation,” said Representative Brian Mast. “Instead of minding their business, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris should focus on the attack at our southern border.”
Similarly, President Donald Trump has previously suggested an opposite approach to Iran than that endorsed by Biden would be more beneficial.
Trump has claimed his policies restricted Iran’s nefarious activities, which he contrasted with Iran’s increased anti-Western efforts during the Biden-Harris administration.
“When I was President, Iran was in total check,” said Trump. “They were starved for cash, fully contained, and desperate to make a deal.”
