Joe Biden says the United States is discussing with Israel the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iranian oil infrastructure.
Asked whether he would support such a strike, Biden said: “We’re talking about it. Regardless, I think it would be a little bit…”
He has previously stated that he would not support Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Immediately after Biden’s remarks, crude oil prices surged 5%. That number has now increased by 10% since Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would “pay a heavy price” for Tuesday’s attack, which fired 180 ballistic missiles at Israel.
Iran said the attack was a response to the killings of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Brigadier General Abbas Nirforoushan. respond.
Biden also told reporters he did not expect Israeli retaliation on Thursday.
When he was asked as he was leaving the White House what plans the United States had to allow Israel to attack Iran, he responded: “First of all, we will not allow Israel, we advise Israel, nothing will happen today.”
He had earlier stated The United States does not support strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilitiesAs touted by some in Israel, including former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Bennett believes that striking Iran’s nuclear facilities could “help change the face of the Middle East” and “fatally weaken this terrorist regime.”
Israeli media cited reports from local officials that Israel planned to attack Iranian oil facilities first. If Iran then strikes back, Israel will target its nuclear facilities.
Biden said on Wednesday that he had consulted with leaders of other G7 countries and they agreed that Israel “has the right to respond, but they should respond proportionately.”
Worries about further violence between Israel and Iran, the world’s seventh-largest oil producer, kept markets on edge.
Of particular concern is whether any upgrades would block the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of tanker traffic and a fifth of liquefied natural gas refrigerated gas must pass.
