US President Joe Biden revealed that he is in talks about potential Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities, causing oil prices to surge by five per cent on Thursday, just a month before the US presidential election.
Biden clarified to reporters at the White House that he did not anticipate Israel launching any retaliation for Tehran’s missile barrage on Israel before Thursday at the earliest.
When asked by a reporter if he supported Israel striking Iran‘s oil facilities, Biden said, “We’re discussing that. I think that would be a little… anyway.”
The rise in oil prices could significantly impact Biden’s vice president Kamala Harris as she faces Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the November 5 election, where the cost of living is a crucial issue, AFP news agency reported.
Biden emphasised that the US does not “‘allow’ Israel” but rather advises them, and he did not expect any immediate action from Israel, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent disregard for calls for restraint as he targets the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
“First of all, we don’t ‘allow’ Israel, we advise Israel. And there is nothing going to happen today,” he added.
On Wednesday, Biden stated that he would not support Israel attacking Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran launched around 200 rockets in a direct missile attack on Israel on Tuesday, prompting Netanyahu to warn that Tehran would
“face consequences”.
Iran claimed the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the chief of Hezbollah, reported AFP.
Hezbollah has been launching rockets at Israel since shortly after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Iran’s Palestinian ally Hamas, and Israel’s crushing retaliatory offensive in Gaza.