Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
President Biden and Vice President Harris are set to meet with their national security team at the White House to address an imminent attack on Israel by Iran and its proxies.
What’s the deal: The White House has announced that President Biden will depart from his home in Delaware to meet with Vice President Harris and national security officials in the White House Situation Room. The meeting, scheduled for 2:15 PM, will focus on “Developments in the Middle East.” As part of diplomatic efforts to prevent the situation from worsening, Biden also plans to call Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The United States has deployed additional fighter jets to support Israel amid concerns of imminent Iranian retaliation following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
What Iran is saying: Iran has vowed to take revenge against Israel for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Israel would be “punished” for the killing. Additionally, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, stated, “While Iran has no interest in exacerbating regional tensions, we believe it is necessary to hold Israel accountable to prevent further instability.”
Top Iranian General warning: Iranian General Hossein Salami warned today, “Our response will come at a time and place of our choosing. When Israel feels the impact of our strike, it will understand the gravity of its miscalculation. Israel can expect a resolute response for the elimination of Haniyeh. It gravely miscalculated when it targeted our nuclear scientists, believing it could derail our nuclear program. The United States and Israel are the true sources of all prohibited weapons, yet they now claim Iran has no right to develop nuclear capabilities…the Zionist regime has been born in a cradle of terrorism, and is not in possession of any of the elements that constitute a nation.”
What Israel is saying: Israel has not officially acknowledged the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that the country is engaged in a “multifront war” against Iran and its proxies. Netanyahu has warned that both Iran and Lebanon that an attack on Israel could lead to a war that they “don’t want” but “are prepared for.”
Efforts to de-escalate: Multiple Arab nations, along with G7 foreign ministers, have been actively working to de-escalate tensions. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been urging other countries, including those in the region, to help pressure Iran not to retaliate. White House Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer added, “We are doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not boil over.”
