Iran is ‘poised to launch an attack’ as US stands firm on Israeli defense
John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 17, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
The White House reaffirmed its commitment to defending Israel against any potential Iranian aggression, as outlined by national security spokesperson John Kirby on Tuesday. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, Kirby highlighted the U.S. military’s enhanced presence in the region, which includes two aircraft-carrier strike groups and an additional squadron of F-22 fighter jets.
Kirby acknowledged the difficulty in predicting Iran’s intentions but stressed that the U.S. is taking Iranian threats seriously. “We believe that they are still postured and poised to launch an attack should they want to do that, which is why we have that enhanced force posture in the region,” Kirby stated. He reiterated the U.S. message to Iran: “One, don’t do it. There’s no reason to escalate this. There’s no reason to potentially start some sort of all-out regional war. And number two, we are going to be prepared to defend Israel if it comes to that.”
The U.S. response comes amid escalating tensions following the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was reportedly killed during a visit to Tehran late last month. Iran has accused Israel of being behind Haniyeh’s killing, although Israel has not confirmed or denied the accusation.
In addition to addressing the Iranian threat, Kirby expressed cautious optimism regarding a potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza, where conflict has persisted for the past 10 months. He described recent talks as “constructive” and expressed hope for progress in ongoing discussions in Doha.
“The parties are still engaged and that’s a good thing,” Kirby remarked. “The fact that we’ve moved on to another level here with working groups now in Doha, that’s not a bad thing. It means that the sides are still talking. It means that there’s still hope that we can nail down these last few details and move forward.”
Kirby also noted the significance of Hamas’s continued involvement in the discussions, underscoring that “nobody has broken off entirely from the process.”
