President Joe Biden said he was discussing possible Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities, in comments that sent oil prices spiking Thursday just a month before the US presidential election.

Biden told reporters at the White House however that he was not expecting Israel to launch any retaliation for Tehran’s missile barrage on Israel before Thursday at least.

When asked by a reporter if he supported Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities, Biden said “we’re discussing that. I think that would be a little… anyway.”

Oil prices jumped five percent over concerns about the Middle East after Biden spoke.

A rise in oil prices could be hugely damaging for Biden’s Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat confronts Republican former president Donald Trump in a November 5 election where the cost of living is a major issue.

Biden said he did not expect any immediate action from Israel – even if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently paid little heed to calls for restraint as he targets the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

  • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.mlEnglish
    251·
    2 months ago

    You can always trust a democrat to do their absolute best to snatch electoral defeat from the jaws of victory

  • wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works
    203·
    2 months ago

    Iran: if you don’t want this to escalate absolutely do not attack our oil infrastructure, else we will retaliate in kind against western backed oil infrastructure.

    Nobody:

    Biden: oh I know what will insure the Democrats lose the election: radically higher gas prices and wider involvement in the middle east!

    If y’all lose the election, it won’t be because of tankies, Jill Stein, of whatever other boogieman y’all can come up with. It’ll be your own damn fault. Stop blaming everybody else, the call is coming from inside the house.

  • Korkki@lemmy.world
    23·
    2 months ago

    They won’t do shit. It’s election year. Israel might, but US is not willing to follow.