Iran issued a stark warning on Monday, stating that the United States would bear “full responsibility” if Israel launches a retaliatory attack on Iran. This comes after U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that he had reviewed Israeli plans regarding such a strike.
Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, described Biden’s statements as “deeply troubling and provocative” in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Swiss Presidency of the UN Security Council.
President Biden responded “Yes and yes” when asked by a reporter on Friday whether he had been thoroughly briefed on Israel’s potential response to Iran’s missile strike on October 1. On that day, Iran fired approximately 200 missiles at Israel, in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon at the end of September, which killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Abbas Nilforushan, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran months prior.
Israel, engaged in wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, has vowed to retaliate for the Iranian strike.
Iravani’s letter stated: “This inflammatory statement (from Biden) raises serious concerns as it indicates implicit U.S. approval and explicit support for illegal Israeli military aggression against Iran.”
He added, “The United States will therefore bear full responsibility for its role in inciting any aggressive actions by Israel against Iran,” emphasizing that such actions would constitute a “blatant violation of fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter.”
According to The Washington Post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Biden that Israel intends to target Iranian military sites, but not its nuclear infrastructure or oil facilities.
