Published October 15, 2024
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have assured the United States that a counterstrike on Iran will be limited to military targets rather than oil or nuclear facilities, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
President Joe Biden, who has conveyed in public his opposition to striking Tehran’s nuclear and oil facilities, discussed Israel’s plans with Netanyahu during a classified phone call last week. In that conversation, Netanyahu relayed to Biden his plan to hit military targets, the person said.
The Washington Post first reported that Netanyahu had reassured Biden of his plans to avoid nuclear and oil targets.
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SOURCE: www.cnn.com
RELATED: Israel will respond to Iran based on national interest – PM
Published October 14, 2024
Israel will listen to the US but make final decisions based on its national interest, the Israeli prime minister’s office said, as speculation over its response to a major Iranian missile attack continues.
The brief overnight statement was issued in response to a Washington Post story which said Benjamin Netanyahu had told the US he was willing to target military sites in Iran – rather than nuclear or oil facilities.
Citing two officials, the Post said Netanyahu made the comments during a phone call with US President Joe Biden last Wednesday, when they discussed Israel’s intended retaliation.
Iran launched almost 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel on 1 October. Most of the projectiles were intercepted, Israel’s military said.
At the time, Netanyahu said Iran had made a “big mistake” and would “pay for it”.
The overnight Israeli statement, sent alongside a link to the Washington Post article, said: “We listen to the American government’s thoughts, but will make our final decisions based on Israel’s national security needs.”
According to an anonymous official quoted in the Post, Israel’s retaliatory strike would be designed to avoid the appearance of “political interference” in the upcoming US presidential election, which is less than a month away.
Analysts have said a hit on Iranian oil facilities could push up oil prices, and therefore affect the polls, which currently suggest a close race between Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
The price of crude oil shot up 5% at the beginning of the month, immediately after President Biden spoke about the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil infrastructure.
The US has appeared to be trying to limit Israel’s response to Iran.
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SOURCE: www.bbc.com
