Biden said the US is discussing the possibility of Israel attacking Iran’s oil facilities
Joe Biden said the US is discussing with Israel the possibility of Israel attacking Iran’s oil infrastructure.
Asked whether he supported such strikes, Mr. Biden said: “We’re discussing it. I think it would be a little… a little bit… anyway.”
His off-the-cuff remarks made as he left the White House did not clarify Washington’s position. Mr. Biden previously said he would not support Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Benchmark Brent crude oil prices rose 5% immediately after this comment. It has now increased 10% since Iran’s massive missile attack on Israel on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran “will pay a heavy price” for Tuesday’s attack, which saw at least 180 ballistic missiles fired at Israel.
Satellite images released by the Associated Press showed damage to the Nevatim air base, one of the targets of the attack.
Iran said the attack was a response to the killings of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan.
Biden told reporters he did not expect Israel to retaliate on Thursday.
When asked when leaving the White House, what plans did the US have to allow Israel to attack Iran, he replied: “First of all, we do not allow Israel, we advise Israel and nothing will happen today .”
A US official told Reuters news agency that the US believes Israel is “still determining exactly what it will do”.
Mr. Biden previously said The US does not support attacking Iran’s nuclear facilitiesas some in Israel have touted, including former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Bennett argued that attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities could “help change the face of the Middle East” and “severely cripple this terrorist regime”.
Israeli media quoted local officials as saying that Israel planned to attack Iran’s oil facilities in advance. If Iran responds, Israel will target its nuclear facilities.
Speaking on Wednesday, Iran’s Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri told state television that they would attack infrastructure across Israel if they retaliated.
Mr Bagheri said the attack “will be repeated with greater intensity and all the regime’s infrastructure will be targeted”.
Mr Biden on Wednesday said he had consulted with leaders of other G7 countries, who agreed that Israel “has the right to respond, but they should respond accordingly”.
Fears of further violence between Israel and Iran, the world’s seventh-largest oil producer, have put markets at risk.
Of particular concern is whether any escalation could block the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of tanker traffic and a fifth of LNG must pass.
