Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a group of American Jewish leaders on Tuesday that further escalation with Iran is not in the interests of either the U.S. or Israel, three people who attended the meeting told Axios.
The Biden administration and several other Western countries allied with Israel are urging Benjamin Netanyahu's government not to rush into a retaliation against Iran that could lead to a regional war.
The U.S. assessment is that Iran would respond to any significant, overt Israeli strike on Iranian soil with a new round of missile and drone attacks, a senior U.S. official told Axios."We think it will be very hard to replicate the huge success we had on Saturday with defeating the attack if Iran launches hundreds of missiles and drones again — and the Israelis know it," another U.S. official said.
A person who attended the meeting said Blinken did not say that Israel should refrain from responding to Iran, stressing it was Israel's decision to make.
"But his message was: be smart, strategic and limited as possible," the attendee said."Strength and wisdom are two sides of the same coin," Blinken told the Jewish leaders.Blinken said that "we would never tell Israel what to do," and that the Biden administration was simply giving Israel the best advice it can, according to two people who attended the meeting.
Blinken told the group that the fact that Jordan and Saudi Arabia were part of the defensive effort to repel Iran's attack was very important and opens opportunities for the future, according to one attendee.
Blinken also claimed that Hamas may have rejected the most recent hostage deal because it thought the Iranian attack might lead to a regional conflict, two attendees said.He added that if Hamas sees there is no regional war, the militant group will once again be under pressure to cut a hostage deal.The State Department declined to comment.
@JcawolfsonIndependent2wks2W
Joke
Israel is like a drunk friend of ours that keeps getting us into barfights.
We should stop paying for his beer!
Better yet, maybe we shouldn't give him anymore beer!
The same guy that thought releasing $10 billion to Iran was in the US and Israel's best interst. So maybe let's not accept them their opinions as intelligent. It's all about Biden votes
@PandaTaylorGreen2wks2W
If they strike anything inside of Iran that would force Iran to respond again. It would create a cycle retaliation that cannot be stopped anymore.
I think this is the latest opportunity to end the cycle, they should use this opportunity isolate Iran diplomatically.
Wise advice. Please take the win, Israel. Wonderful that there were no casualties after this weekend's successful intercept.
Hoping Israel thinks two steps ahead. If Israel hits Iran (again), Iran will likely respond (again). Embarking on a vengeance-fueled spiral of escalation will eventually lead to massive casualties.
Better for everyone to de-escalate. Israel can respond by maintaining a heightened defensive posture and the U.S. would support that.
@AshamedActiv1stDemocrat2wks2W
What win? Israel was under massive attack and you suggest we turn the other cheek? That's not how things work in the Middle East.
That's not a "win." If Israel did that, it would show Iran that there is literally zero consequence to an assault of this type. That would be a massive, massive loss.
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
In your opinion, how important is it for countries to consider the wider consequences of their actions on the global stage, especially in terms of peace and security?
@9LLBL7F2wks2W
defend for oneself if needed request more from allies, dont owe anyone debt.
Countries should not escalate conflicts as it causes suffering in not just the effected region
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
@ISIDEWITH2wks2W
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