Joe Biden has warned Iran not to launch an attack on Israel, in retaliation for a strike on an Iranian consular building in Damascus, Syria.
The US President fears that a strike is imminent and stated that their support towards Israel was “ironclad” and Washington will do “all we can” to protect it from an attack by Tehran.
US intelligence officials believe the attack would involve “high precision missiles” directly from Iran, rather than an attack through a proxy such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We're going to do all we can to protect Israel's security,” he said during a press conference in the White House Rose Garden.
Joe Biden has issued a warning to Iran, promising 'ironclad' support for Israel following a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria
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The conference was co-held with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumi, where the pair discussed “developments in the Mideast including our shared support for a cease-fire and a hostage deal, and urgent efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza”, according to Biden.
The US President also said that they both wanted to “address the threat” posed by Iran and said Tehran is “threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel”.
He added: “As I told Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again, ironclad … all we can to protect Israel’s security.”
On Wednesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader, said the Damascus strike was equivalent to an attack on Iran itself.
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Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a press conference where the pair discussed developments in the Middle East
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“When they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory,” he said in a televised speech.
“The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished.”
Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, responded online, vowing that: “If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack in Iran.”
Biden’s promise comes despite his public criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the death of seven aid workers in an Israeli air strike, which he lambasted as “unacceptable”.
Biden had previously said that US support for Israel would cease if they did not intervene to stop civilian harm
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The US president "made clear the need" for Israel to implement "concrete" steps to stop civilian harm and ensure the safety of aid workers.
During the 30-minute call, Biden told Netanyahu that US support for Israel could cease if this was not implemented.
The Damascus bombing on April 1 killed 12 people, including Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Six other guard members also died in the strike.
Israel has not commented on the attack but Tehran says it holds Netanyahu responsible.