As conflict in the Middle East intensifies, U.S. President Joe Biden suggested on Thursday that his administration is weighing the possibility of supporting an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil infrastructure. This comes in response to a missile attack on Israel earlier in the week by Iran, which itself was a retaliatory measure for Israel’s targeted assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in both Iran and Lebanon. The announcement has sparked alarm across the globe, with concerns about soaring oil prices, increased instability in the region, and domestic political ramifications in the United States.
During a press encounter at the White House, Biden responded to a question about whether he would support Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure with, “We’re discussing that. There’s nothing that’s going to happen today.” While his comments stopped short of full endorsement, they signaled an openness to action that has already caused ripples in international markets. Following Biden’s remarks, the price of crude oil surged by 5 percent, reaching $77 per barrel, prompting fears of further market disruption.
The current escalation began when Israel conducted a series of high-profile assassinations targeting leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, both militant groups with deep ties to Iran. These assassinations, carried out in both Iran and Lebanon, provoked Iran into launching a missile strike on Israel. While the missile attack did not result in any Israeli casualties, the political and military ramifications have been swift. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, immediately vowed that Iran would “pay a heavy price” for the strike.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israel would act against Iran “in the time and place that we choose.” Netanyahu, a key U.S. ally, has repeatedly framed Israel’s military actions as essential for national security, particularly in light of Iran’s growing influence in the region.
Iran, for its part, warned that any further Israeli aggression would result in a stronger military response. Tensions between the two nations have been simmering for years, fueled by proxy wars in Syria and Lebanon and Israel’s frequent strikes on Iranian targets across the region.
Biden’s openness to supporting Israeli strikes on Iran marks a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Historically, the U.S. has been cautious in engaging directly with Iran, often choosing to sanction the country’s economy rather than launch military actions. Biden’s comments, therefore, represent a significant shift in tone that could have far-reaching consequences.
However, Biden is walking a political tightrope. Domestically, he faces mounting pressure from Republican lawmakers who are demanding more aggressive action against Iran. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized the administration’s response to Iran’s missile strike, stating, “The Biden administration has repeatedly threatened Iran with ‘severe consequences’ for its campaign of terror against Israel and the United States, but failed to impose them.”
This pressure comes as Biden gears up for the November 2024 presidential election, where he faces Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee and Donald Trump on the Republican side. Some analysts, including Jacobin’s Branko Marcetic, have questioned the wisdom of Biden’s foreign policy moves in light of the upcoming election, with Marcetic commenting on social media, “If the president was intentionally trying to help Trump win, what would be the difference between how he’s acting now?”
The potential for military strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure is causing significant concern within economic circles, as such an attack would likely disrupt global oil supplies. Iran is one of the world’s major oil producers, and any attack on its infrastructure would lead to higher prices at the pump—something American voters are already sensitive to ahead of the election.
Biden’s strategy risks alienating voters in key swing states, particularly those with large Muslim and Arab-American populations who are growing increasingly disillusioned with the administration’s unflinching support for Israel’s military actions. Minnesota and Michigan, two swing states with large Arab-American populations, have already seen voters express frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is running as Harris’s vice-presidential candidate, has faced criticism from Muslim and progressive voters in his home state. Jaylani Hussein, a board member of the Justice and Equality Coalition in Minneapolis, said during a recent press conference that Democratic leaders are at risk of losing voter support if they continue to back Israel’s military actions without question. “I think we have unfortunately been traumatized by the murder of all these children, and I think a lot more people will be voting against Kamala Harris,” Hussein said, referring to the high civilian death toll in Gaza and Lebanon.
While Biden and his administration continue to weigh their options, concerns over a broader regional conflict are growing. Iran has signaled that it is prepared to escalate its military response if Israel strikes, and Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, has already launched rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinian resistance efforts.
Israel’s ongoing airstrikes in Gaza have also drawn international condemnation. More than 148,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured by Israeli forces in Gaza, according to local officials, and thousands of Lebanese have been killed or wounded by Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.
The possibility of U.S. involvement in a direct strike on Iran would further complicate an already volatile situation, potentially drawing in other regional powers and making it difficult for Biden to focus on diplomatic efforts.
“Americans of Lebanese descent have been treated as lesser U.S. citizens than Israeli U.S. citizens,” said an anonymous source from a Lebanese-American community organization. “It is as if we don’t exist.”
COMMENTS