U.S. President Joe Biden holds a press conference at the end of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21, 2023.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
National security spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the White House is taking a “wait-and-see” approach on Iran’s attempts to attack Israel, as President Joe Biden aims to diplomatic rather than military action.
“I think we have to wait and see what the Israelis decide to do,” Kirby said on “Fox News Sunday.” “Since the beginning of this conflict, President Biden has worked hard to prevent it from turning into a broader regional war and an escalation of tensions.”
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, most of which were intercepted by a coordinated effort by Israel, the United States and other partners in the region.
The Biden administration has been working to mitigate the impact of the attack, which initially seemed likely to spark an all-out war in the Middle East.
On Sunday, Biden convened G7 leaders to discuss the Iran attack. Biden said in a statement on Saturday that the meeting planned a “coordinated diplomatic response,” demonstrating the White House’s commitment to responding through diplomacy rather than military retaliation.
On Saturday, Iran said its attacks “can be considered over,” according to an Iranian statement. Iran’s UN missionhinting that upgrades may be cooling off, at least for now.
“If the Israeli regime makes another mistake, Iran’s response will be even harsher,” the statement added.
Tehran has previously warned that it was planning retaliatory actions in response to the April 1 attack on its consulate in Damascus, which it held Israel responsible for. Israel has vowed to “react and launch an attack” if Iran carries out these threats.
Phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu A senior administration official told NBC News that on Saturday night, Biden said the United States would not participate in attacks against Iran but that the United States remained committed to helping Israel defend itself.
“The next step will be decided by the Israelis,” Kirby said.
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