After the Iranian missile fire on Israel on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden publicly opposed a possible retaliatory attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran is now warning Washington not to get involved in the conflict or there will be dire consequences.
“The answer is no,” Biden said Wednesday in response to a question about a possible retaliatory strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel’s response to Tuesday evening’s Iranian missile attack must be “proportionate,” the US president added. At the same time, he announced new sanctions against Iran. “Soon” he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Major differences of opinion
There have been major disagreements between Israel and the US for months over strategies for resolving the conflict with the terrorist organization Hamas and its allies. As the US tried to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack in the Iranian capital Tehran. The US remains firmly on Israel’s side militarily and helped defend against Iran with a missile strike on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Biden sharply criticized Iran. This was “completely natural”. US Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stressed on Wednesday that Washington would coordinate any response to the Iranian attack with Israel.
Iran attacked Israel on Tuesday evening with dozens of missiles – the second time after firing hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in April. According to the Israeli military, “a large number” of the approximately 180 missiles fired by Iran were intercepted. As the Israeli army announced on Wednesday, several air bases were also hit. However, no infrastructure was damaged.
Israel plans “significant retaliation”
According to a media report, Israel will now respond with a “major retaliatory measure” in the coming days. The target could be oil facilities in Iran and other strategic locations, US news portal Axios reported, citing Israeli officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already announced revenge. “Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said, according to his office.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called for the destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities. “We must act now to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and its key energy sources and fatally wound this terrorist regime,” Bennett said Wednesday on X. There is now a justification for such an operation, he added. “With Hezbollah and Hamas crippled, Iran is unprotected.”
Iran is threatening a harsh response
Iran, meanwhile, warned the US against interfering in the conflict. “We have warned (…) the US forces to stay out of this case and not to intervene,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian state television. Otherwise, the US military will have to expect a “tough response from us.” The chief diplomat added that the message was sent through the Swiss embassy in Tehran. Washington and Tehran have not had direct diplomatic relations for decades due to Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
