U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a virtual speech at the National Action Network Conference, at the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2024.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | beautiful images
President Joe Biden said Friday he looked forward Iran will attack Israel soon, and reiterated that the United States will support and defend Israel if such an attack occurs.
At one The White House After the event, when asked by reporters how likely he thought an Iranian attack was, Biden said that while he did not want to discuss “secure information,” his expectations were “sooner rather than later”.
Asked what his message was to Iran, Biden said: “Don't.”
“We dedicate ourselves to the defense of Israel,” he said. We will support Israel, we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed.”
Earlier in the day, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that US officials were in “constant communication” with their Israeli counterparts “to ensure that they can defend themselves against those types of attacks”.
“We believe this remains a real threat,” Kirby said. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that Israel can defend itself.”
Iranian officials, including the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameneihas vowed to retaliate against Israel after the attack on its consulate in Damascus.
In response, Israel threatened direct attack on Iran if it is attacked.
NBC News reported last week that an Iranian attack on Israel could focus on military or intelligence targets, rather than civilians, two US officials said. Officials also said the Biden administration has begun reviewing options for how to respond to Iran's many possible retaliatory moves.
Iran accused Israel of attacking its consulate in Damascus on April 1. Israeli officials say it was a building disguised as a diplomatic mission and that it was staffed by Iran's Quds force. Used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
