President Joe Biden has urged Israel to refrain from attacking Iran’s oil infrastructure amid rising tensions in the region. As he departed the White House, Biden addressed questions about U.S. support for potential Israeli strikes on Iran, stating, “First of all, we don’t allow Israel; we advise Israel, and there’s nothing happening today.”
A U.S. official later informed Reuters that Israel is still considering its course of action regarding Iran. This comes after Biden previously expressed that the U.S. does not endorse strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, despite comments from former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett suggesting that such strikes could significantly alter the dynamics in the Middle East and weaken Iran’s regime.
Israeli media reports have indicated that Israel may prioritize attacks on Iran’s oil facilities before targeting its nuclear plants if retaliation occurs. This strategy underscores the escalating tensions, with Iranian officials warning of consequences for any attacks on their infrastructure.
On Wednesday, Iranian Chief of Staff Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri stated that Iran would target Israeli infrastructure in response. He emphasized that retaliation would be “repeated with greater intensity,” marking a serious escalation in rhetoric.
The G7 countries have also weighed in, asserting that while Israel has the right to respond, any action taken should be proportional. This follows statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that Iran “will pay a heavy price” for its recent missile attacks on Israel, which involved at least 180 ballistic missiles.
A crucial concern remains whether any further escalation could disrupt shipping routes through the Straits of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and liquefied natural gas transport, accounting for a third of oil tanker traffic and a fifth of LNG shipments.
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