Following a turbulent week in the Middle East, President Joe Biden stated on Saturday that he hopes Iran will resign.
In Wilmington, Delaware, as he was heading to his limousine after leaving a neighborhood grocery shop, Biden answered one question from a reporter across the street.
“I hope so,” Biden responded when asked if he believed Iran would resign. “I’m not sure.”
Israeli bombings earlier this week killed prominent Hezbollah and Hamas commanders in Tehran, Iran, and Beirut, Lebanon, respectively. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, issued an order for a direct assault on Israel on Wednesday. Both groups are Iranian proxies. Even though that hasn’t happened, there’s still a chance of reprisals.
According to a White House transcript of the conversation, Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and “reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security against all Iranian threats, including its proxy terror groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.”
According to the readout, Vice President Kamala Harris was present during the conversation, and the President “addressed plans to bolster Israel’s security against threats, particularly against ballistic missiles and drones, to include increased defensive U.S. military deployments.” “The President emphasized the significance of continuing efforts to de-escalate larger tensions in the area, together with this commitment to Israel’s protection.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli colleague Yoav Gallant had a separate conversation on Friday.
NEW: @POTUS tells @JenniferJJacobs he hopes Iran will “stand down” re: escalating tension in the Middle East pic.twitter.com/7z1WNN7AAN
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According to the transcript of the call, “The Secretary reaffirmed unwavering US support for Israel’s security and told the Minister of additional actions, including existing and future defensive force posture improvements, that the Department will take to assist Israel’s defense.” Secretary Austin emphasized that a de-escalation of hostilities, particularly through the completion of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement, would benefit all nations in the area, and that further escalation is not inevitable. He did, however, also emphasize that Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and other terrorist organizations supported by Iran should have no doubts about the United States’ determination in light of the extraordinary extent of American support for Israel since October 7.
