Biden ‘discussing’ potential Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities
Oil prices have jumped following the news that Israel is contemplating a major retaliatory strike against Iran, despite an announcement from Iran’s government that it is no longer holding back on going to war with Israel.
US President Joe Biden has said he was discussing potential strikes on Iranian oil facilities with Israel, according to the Arab News via AFP. The comments, made on October 3rd, have lead to a spike in oil prices just a month before the US Presidential election – they jumped five percent after Biden made his speech.
When quizzed on whether he would support Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities, Biden said “we’re discussing that. I think that would be a little… anyway.”
A rise in the price of oil could be a huge problem for Biden’s Vice President Kamala Harris’ election campaign, as the cost of living is a major issue likely to affect the election where she is standing against Donald Trump.
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Biden claimed he doesn’t expect anything immediate from Israel against Iran, although Netanyahu has recently paid no attention to Biden’s public statements regarding action in Lebanon.
“First of all, we don’t ‘allow’ Israel, we advise Israel. And there is nothing going to happen today,” Biden told the press when asked if he would allow Israel to strike Iran. Biden said the day before that he would not back Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear sites.
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Iran launched missiles at Israel on October 1st in an attack it says was partly in retaliation for the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the former chief of Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been locked in a conflict with Israel since October 7th 2023. Netanyahu has warned Tehran that it will pay for the strikes.
AFP
