During the first Friday press conference of his presidency, President Joe Biden has indicated that he opposes any attacks on Iran’s oil fields, as a retaliatory strike by Israel appears imminent.
On Tuesday, Iran launched a missile attack deep into the heart of Israel in response to the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The Israel Defense Forces has promised to launch a “significant retaliation” inching the region closer to a full-scale war between Israel and Iran.
"The Israelis have not concluded what they are going to do. That's under discussion. If I were in their shoes, I would be thinking about other alternatives than striking Iranian oil fields," Biden said in a press conference at the White House.
Tensions between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have remained high since the war between Hamas and Israel began following the Oct. 7 massacre of thousands of Israeli citizens. Both Netanyahu and several U.S. officials have accused the Biden administration of hampering Israel’s efforts to defends itself from enemies on multiple fronts.
As recently as July, House Republicans accused the White House of slow-walking weapon systems to Israel as they continued to face attacks from Iran’s proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.
During Friday’s press conference, Biden dismissed such notions and told reporters that “no U.S. administration has helped Israel more than I have. None. None. None. I think Bibi should remember that. Whether he is trying to influence the elections or not, I don't know, but I am not counting on that.”
On Sunday Biden said he would be urging Netanyahu to avoid an all-out war in the Middle East. “It has to be," Biden told reporters prior to boarding Air Force One. “We really have to avoid it.”
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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