Iran issued a stark warning on Monday, holding the United States accountable for any retaliatory strike by Israel on Iranian targets, following comments from US President Joe Biden suggesting he was aware of Israel’s plans.
Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, described Biden’s remarks as profoundly alarming and provocative in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Swiss presidency of the UN Security Council.
Biden, when asked by a reporter on Friday if he had insight into how and when Israel might respond to Iran’s recent missile strikes, replied “yes and yes.” Iran had launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, in retaliation for the targeted killings of Tehran-aligned leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah, and an Iranian Revolutionary Guard general.
Israel, currently engaged in conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, has vowed to respond to Iran’s missile attacks.
In his letter, Iravani condemned Biden’s comments as indicating the US’s “tacit approval and explicit support” for Israel’s actions, warning that this could lead to further escalation.
“The United States will bear full responsibility for its role in instigating, inciting and enabling any acts of aggression by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran, in flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
According to The Washington Post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Biden that Israel intends to target Iran’s military sites while avoiding its nuclear or oil infrastructure.
