‘Think That Would Be A Little…’: Biden On Talks With Israel About Strikes On Iranian Oil Sites – News18

In retaliation for the missile barrage, US President Joe Biden on Thursday said he is in talks with Israel about strikes on Iranian oil sites.

“We’re discussing that. I think that would be a little… anyway,” Biden told reporters at the White House when asked if he supported Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities. His comments quickly sent oil prices spiking just a month before the US presidential election.

Biden, however, said “nothing is going to happen” on Thursday with regard to Israeli strikes, even as the situation is highly tense as the region awaits some form of response. “First of all, we don’t ‘allow’ Israel, we advise Israel. And there is nothing going to happen today,” he said, trying to allay fears about further escalation.

Oil prices jumped 5 percent over concerns about the Middle East after Biden spoke. A rise in oil prices could be hugely damaging for his Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat confronts former president Donald Trump in the closely contested election race. Cost of living is a major issue in this year’s polls.

This comes after his statement that he will not back Israel attacking Iranian nuclear sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently paid little heed to calls for restraint as he targets the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Iran launched around 200 rockets in a direct missile attack on Israel on October 1, prompting Netanyahu to warn that Tehran will pay. Iran said it was in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

(With agency inputs)