Joe Biden Engages in Continuous Crisis Discussions to Prevent Israel-Iran Conflict

Washington:

US President Joe Biden convened emergency discussions on Monday regarding a potential Iranian retaliation against Israel as his administration stated it was laboring tirelessly to prevent a full-scale conflict in the Middle East.
Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken participated in frantic diplomacy to alleviate tensions triggered by a suspected Israeli assault that led to the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

The president reached out to King Abdullah II of Jordan, who aided in downing Iranian drones and missiles in a previous confrontation in April, while Blinken contacted top officials in Qatar and Egypt, the primary mediators seeking a truce in the 10-month Israel-Hamas conflict.

“We are engaged in intense diplomacy, essentially all day and night, with a very straightforward message — all sides must avoid escalation,” Blinken stated after joining other senior officials in a White House gathering.

“It is also crucial that we break this pattern by achieving a ceasefire in Gaza,” said Blinken, who has also conversed with G7 counterparts and Iraq’s prime minister since Sunday.

On Monday, multiple US personnel sustained injuries in a missile attack on a base in Iraq, heightening regional tensions further.

Biden had been optimistic in his final months in office about ending the Gaza conflict and advancing towards securing a historic agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Instead, he has bolstered the US military presence in the Middle East as a display of power to Iran.

After steadfastly supporting Israel’s campaign against Hamas, Biden has expressed his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the killing of Haniyeh, who was involved in the ceasefire talks.

Blinken, who has cautioned that Iran may strike imminently, advocated for Biden’s proposed ceasefire plan that would halt the fighting in Gaza and release hostages taken during the October 7 major attack on Israel by Hamas.

A ceasefire “will create opportunities for longer-lasting peace, not only in Gaza itself, but in other regions where the conflict could spread,” Blinken remarked during a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

In a subtle reference to US concerns, Blinken remarked, “Ultimately, it boils down to all sides finding ways to reach an agreement, rather than seeking excuses to delay or reject.”

“It is imperative that all parties make the correct decisions in the upcoming hours and days,” he emphasized.

Apprehensions of escalating conflict

Biden convened with his national security team, including Vice President Kamala Harris, in the White House’s heavily fortified Situation Room.

He returned to the White House after spending the weekend at home in Delaware, and after a brief greeting for First Lady Jill Biden, he proceeded directly to the Oval Office without addressing reporters.

The White House reported that Biden and the Jordanian king in their conversation “discussed their endeavors to de-escalate regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release agreement.”

King Abdullah urged for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire to halt the calamity in Gaza” and for “halting all provocative actions,” according to a statement from the Jordanian royal court.

In April, Iran directly attacked Israel, bringing their longstanding shadow warfare out into the open following a strike on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Syria.

The United States assisted in intercepting the drones and missiles, resulting in minimal damage.

However, Jordan — in a delicate position with its sizable Palestinian population and a peace accord with Israel — has underscored its reluctance to become a battleground.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller remarked that in April, “we managed to navigate a path that ultimately guided us through that period without descending into a broader conflict.”

“Nevertheless, every time one of these cycles of escalation occurs, there is a risk of parties misjudging, a risk of them taking actions that spiral out of control,” Miller informed journalists.