White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment during a Friday morning press briefing on the Biden administration’s response, particularly its lack of response, to rising tensions in the Middle East.
“I know there’s a lot of interest in the reports coming out of the Middle East. And we understand that, we understand that. However, I’m going to look into it right now. I know you’re all asking me about it for sure Will ask. We do so,” said Jean-Pierre, with no comment on the reports at this time. Obviously, you all heard from Secretary Blinken this morning.”
Jean-Pierre said President Biden is kept informed about everything that is happening with the unrest in the Middle East.
This comes after Israel launched limited strikes on Iran early Friday in response to Tehran’s barrage of missiles and drones on Israel last Saturday.
Despite threat of total destruction, Iranian President made no mention of Israeli attack
During Friday’s WH press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the overnight unrest in the Middle East. (Getty Images)
Fox News confirmed that the explosions occurred in Iran’s Isfahan province, where Natanz, one of Iran’s nuclear facilities, is located.
Jean-Pierre said the White House does not want to see conflict escalate in the Middle East.
“We have been very clear from the beginning that we do not want to see this conflict escalate. We clearly continue to consult with our allies and partners, including in the region, and to minimize the risks of further escalation in the region.” And that’s a sentiment that was expressed in the G-7 foreign ministry joint statement issued this morning,” Jean-Pierre said. “You’ve heard it now obviously from Secretary Blinken, who was part of that meeting. I’m just going to be super mindful. I’m not going to speculate or speak to any of the reporting that exists at this time.”
Asked whether the Israelis informed the US before the retaliatory strike, Jean-Pierre still declined to comment.
“I’m not going to talk about our diplomatic conversations,” Jean-Pierre said.
Asked about President Biden’s “no” response to any Iranian retaliation, he also declined to answer whether the US has any influence in the Middle East.
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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks to reporters during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on February 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“I know it won’t be satisfactory. I’m not going to speak to any reports that are out there. I’m not going to do that, not speculate. I will say, you heard it,” Jean-Pierre said. Said, “What you have heard from my NSE colleagues, and from many of us here at the White House, is that there is a long-term relationship between the President and the Prime Minister.”
“Because of that long-standing relationship, they are able to talk very honestly with each other and have difficult conversations when necessary. It’s the type of friendship that they have. “I have also been informed that I am not going to speak in the program.”
The United States has denied any involvement in the attack, and for several days has urged Israel to respond with restraint to Iranian attacks.
When Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked about Israel’s attacks on Iran on Friday morning, he said, “I have nothing to say other than to say that the United States has not engaged in any aggressive operations.”
“What we are focusing on, what the G7 is focusing on, and again, it is reflected in our statements and our conversations, our job is to de-escalate tensions, de-escalate any potential conflict. You have seen Israel on the receiving end of an unprecedented attack,” he said. “But our focus, of course, has been on ensuring that Israel can effectively defend itself, but also on reducing tensions and avoiding conflict. “
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An Israeli soldier places an Israeli flag over an armored personnel carrier (APC) near Israel’s border with Gaza in southern Israel on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Iranian state media also reportedly downplayed Friday’s attacks, with one high-ranking military source telling Fox News that they were “limited.”
According to Iranian army commander General Abdolrahim Mousavi in a report by the Associated Press, “The explosion that occurred this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to air defense systems shooting at a suspicious object, which caused no damage.”
A senior Iranian official reportedly told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had no immediate plans to retaliate.
Israel and its government remained relatively quiet before and after the retaliatory strike on Iran.
“Israel will do whatever it takes to defend itself,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement before the Israeli attack. “(Foreign leaders) have all kinds of suggestions and advice. I appreciate it. But I want to be clear: We will take our own decisions.”
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Former Israel Defense Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus tweeted after the attack, and while Iran appears to be downplaying the attack, he “thinks they got the message.”
Fox News Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi, Bradford Betz, Jennifer Griffin, Greg Norman and Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
