Biden’s warning to Iran: ‘Refrain from retaliatory strike on Israel’

President Joe Biden issued a stern warning to Iran on Friday, stating that he expects an Iranian strike on Israel to occur “sooner than later.” The tension between the two countries has escalated following the bombing of Iran’s consulate in Damascus earlier this month.

In response to questions from reporters, Biden simply said, “Don’t,” when asked for his message to Iran. He emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to defending Israel and stated that Iran will not succeed in its plans.

As the situation intensifies, high-level U.S. officials are working behind the scenes to pressure Iran to back down from its threat of a retaliatory strike. The U.S. has deployed troops and assets to the Middle East in an effort to deter Iran from launching an attack on Israel.

The Pentagon confirmed that Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, has expedited a trip to Israel to meet with senior Israeli military leaders. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to reaffirm the U.S.’s commitment to Israel’s security.

While the U.S. does not have direct diplomatic ties to Iran, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been engaging with countries that do to dissuade Iran from escalating the situation. The State Department has placed new restrictions on U.S. personnel in Israel as a precaution.

The renewed concern over a potential conflict in the Middle East stems from a recent strike on an Iranian facility in Syria, which Iran attributes to Israel. The incident resulted in the death of senior Iranian military leader Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

As tensions continue to rise, the international community is closely monitoring the situation in the region to prevent further escalation and protect the security of all involved parties.