Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden spoke Wednesday as the Jewish state prepares for its retaliatory strike on Iran — and the Islamic republic is warning of greater escalation if attacked.
Netanyahu and Biden’s office confirmed the call as the US presses for a measured response against Iran’s ballistic missile barrage last week that killed one Palestinian man in the West Bank.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, also joined Wednesday’s call.
The talk was expected to focus directly on the looming Israeli counterattack, with Biden opposing strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and oil reserves, sources told CNN.
It was Biden and Netanyahu’s first call in 49 days and the first time they’ve talked following reports of their strained relationship featured in Bob Woodward’s upcoming book “War.”
The book claims Biden privately raged at and cursed out Netanyahu over his controversial invasion of Rafah earlier this year, and slammed the PM to his face for having “no strategy” in the war against Hamas.
The call also comes as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of sabotaging his upcoming trip to the US to speak with his American counterpart in Washington about Israel’s response to Iran.
Netanyahu’s office denied the allegations and claimed Gallant’s trip was never approved, the latest clash between the two Israeli officials.
As Israel prepares for its direct attack on Iran, Tehran has warned that any strike from the Jewish state could result in a retaliatory attack against civilians.
Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Iran kept its Oct. 1 assault to military targets, but that alleged restraint would be lifted if the conflict escalates.
“There are other targets that we could hit, and we have the capability to do so,” he told CNN. “Our response will be forceful and hard.”
With the two nations promising to retaliate against any attack, fears continue to rise over the possibility of an all-out war in the Middle East between Israel and Iran and its terror proxies.
Rezaei ultimately called on the US to rein in Israel and push for a cease-fire in Gaza to end the ongoing conflicts in the region.
