Iran: “We made it very clear to all parties” — White House speaks

Following Iran’s unprecedented direct assault on Israeli territory, the White House has moved swiftly to express its commitment to de-escalating tensions in the volatile Middle East region.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, conveyed the United States’ stance in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Kirby emphasized that the U.S. is firmly committed to preventing further escalation and is not seeking a broader conflict with Iran.

The comments come in the wake of heightened tensions following Iran’s massive missile and drone attack on Israel, a retaliatory measure against an Israeli strike on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus on April 1.

The attack, characterized by the deployment of over 300 drones and missiles towards Israel late Saturday, has raised concerns of a wider conflict.

Although the Israeli army reported 12 injuries resulting from the assault, it acknowledged that the majority of incoming drones and missiles were intercepted before reaching Israeli territory, thanks to assistance from allies including the United States, Jordan, and Britain.

In response to the attack, U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated America’s unwavering support for Israel but advised against a hasty military retaliation.

Axios reported that President Biden directly communicated his opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a counterattack against Iran, suggesting a restrained approach instead.

Highlighting the U.S.’s cautious stance, Kirby underscored the importance of remaining vigilant against potential threats to American troops stationed in the region.

He emphasized that the U.S. has communicated clearly to all parties, including Iran, its commitment to safeguarding personnel and responding decisively to any threats.

“We made it very clear to all parties, including Iran, what we would do… and also how seriously we would take any potential threats to our personnel,” Kirby was quoted saying.