Biden rejects support for Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites as Jewish state vows 'forceful response'

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that he would not support a strike by Israel aimed at wiping out Iran’s nuclear facilities even as Israel’s security cabinet agreed to respond “forcefully” to Iran’s missile attack.

Reporter: "Would you support an attack on Iran's nuclear sites by Israel?"

President Biden: "The answer is no. ... [G7] agree that they have a right to respond, but they should respond proportionally." pic.twitter.com/ejtJMaDAqI

— The Recount (@therecount) October 2, 2024

When asked whether he would back strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, AFP quoted Biden as saying, “The answer is no.”

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“We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what they’re going to do,” he said, adding that all G7 members agree Israel has “a right to respond, but they should respond in proportion.”

Biden also said that there would be more sanctions imposed on Iran and said he would speak “relatively soon” with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet convened by Netanyahu on Wednesday agreed that it will respond forcefully to Iran’s missile attack, reported The Guardian, citing Israeli media.

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An image shared by the Israeli prime minister’s office showed Netanyahu meeting with the director of Shin Bet Ronen Bar, the Mossad director David Barnea, Israel’s chief of staff, Maj Gen Herzi Halevi and defence minister Yoav Gallant.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a consultation with the heads of the security establishment, this afternoon, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/iDO6VfbNRP

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 2, 2024

Israel’s response to Iran’s missile attack will aim to cause “significant financial damage”, the Times of Israel reported, citing an Israeli source.

The feeling is that the response “must be significant, and it must come soon”, the source added.

Israel’s pledge to respond to the Iranian missile attack has raised fears of a spiralling region-wide war, sending diplomats scrambling for options to de-escalate the situation.

Iran in turn said it would launch an even bigger attack if Israel makes good on its pledge.

“If it (Israel) wants to react, we will have a stronger response, this is what the Islamic Republic is committed to,” Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a joint press conference with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in Doha.

“We are not looking for war, it is Israel that forces us to react,” he said.

Pezeshkian’s comments came a day after Iran fired about 200 missiles including hypersonic weapons towards Israel, sending frightened civilians into shelters.

Israel intercepted most of them, while medics reported two people lightly wounded by shrapnel. One of the missiles damaged a school building.

On Wednesday the Israeli military said several Iranian missiles fell inside air force bases without causing any damage.

With inputs from agencies