Speaking to a group of American Jewish leaders, Blinken praised the Jordanian and Saudi “defensive efforts” against Iran’s retaliatory attack, an attendee told Axios.
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A cleric walks past Zolfaghar, top, and Dezful missiles displayed in a missile capabilities exhibition by the IRGC a day prior to second anniversary of Iran’s missile strike on U.S. bases in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian general martyr Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, at Imam Khomeini grand mosque, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
In a meeting with a group of American Jewish leaders, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told them that further escalation with Iran is not in the interests of either the US or “Israel”, three people who took part in the meeting informed Axios.
A senior US official told Axios that according to the US, any significant and open strike by “Israel” on Iranian soil, will be met by a new round of missile and drone attacks from Iran.
“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 US official said.
It is “Israel’s” decision
However, Blinken did not order “Israel” not to respond to Iran emphasizing that it is its decision, a person who took part in the meeting said adding “But his message was: Be smart, strategic, and limited as possible.”
Blinken told the Jewish leaders that “Strength and wisdom are two sides of the same coin.”
According to two people who took part in the meeting he also said that “we would never tell Israel what to do,” adding that the Biden administration was simply providing “Israel” with the best advice.
Blinken praises Jordan and Saudi Arabia
According to one of the attendees, speaking to the group, Blinken praised the Jordanian and Saudi “defensive efforts” against Iran’s retaliatory attack by labeling it as very important as it opens opportunities for the future.
Two attendees emphasized that Blinken claimed that Hamas’s refusal of the most recent captives’ deal was possible because it believed that the Iranian retaliatory strike could lead to an escalation in the region.
Blinken further claimed that the absence of a regional war would put Hamas under pressure regarding the captives’ deal.
The State Department refused to comment.
Gallant told Austin Israeli response to Iran is inevitable
Axios reported on April 15, citing sources with knowledge on the matter, that “Israel’s” Security Minister Yoav Gallant informed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over the phone about Israeli plans to respond to Iran’s recent retaliatory attack.
According to the report, Gallant told Austin that “Israel” will not tolerate the Iranian attack going without a response. It will also not tolerate retaliatory responses every time the regime strikes targets in Syria.
Iran’s overnight attack on April 14 was conducted in response to “Israel’s” recent aggression on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. According to reports, the attack involved drones, cruise missiles, and surface-to-surface missiles launched from Iran. The strikes that were intercepted came in joint collaboration between US, French, UK, and Jordanian forces. However, none of the hypersonic missiles launched by Tehran were intercepted by “Israel’s” Iron Dome.
Although “Israel” was allegedly ready for an immediate counterattack, US President Joe Biden reportedly urged the regime to halt any operation.
AFP reported on April 14 citing a US senior source that the US does not plan to join any prospective Israeli strike against Iran in response to Tehran’s retaliatory strike.
