White House preparing strong signal to deter Iran
White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby (Photo: Getty Images)
The United States is working on sending a strong signal to deter potential aggression by Iran amidst concerns about the escalation of a regional conflict, according to the White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby in an interview with CNN.
"We’re certainly going to act — if we have to— to continue to protect our troops and our facilities. We have proven that we will strike and act to do that. And that's a strong message that Iran needs to take away. We take those responsibilities seriously," he said.
Kirby notes that the United States also takes its national security interests in the region very seriously, which is why President Joe Biden has deployed two carrier strike groups.
"We've got to make sure we send a signal to all actors, not just Iran, but all actors, certainly Iran included, that we will take our national security interest very seriously. We will protect and defend our troops. And we'll do it at a time in a manner of our choosing," he added.
What preceded this
Yesterday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Israel "crossed red lines," and this "may force everyone to take action." There are concerns that Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip may open up more fronts.
In particular, clashes are already occurring on the border between northern Israel and southern Lebanon. However, the escalation of confrontations with Hezbollah has raised concerns that the powerful Lebanese armed group may become actively involved in the conflict.
The U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also warned of an increased risk of the war escalating into a broader conflict in the Middle East, as Iran-backed groups continue to attack American forces deployed in the region.
