Posted on 08/08/24
| News Source: WSJ
The U.S. has warned Iran that its newly elected government and economy could suffer a devastating blow if it were to mount a major attack against Israel, a U.S. official said.
The warning has been communicated directly as well as through intermediaries, said the official, who declined to provide specifics.
“The United States has sent clear messaging to Iran that the risk of a major escalation if they do a significant retaliatory attack against Israel is extremely high,” said the official.
Those messages have also put Tehran on notice “that there is a serious risk of consequences for Iran’s economy and the stability of its newly elected government if it goes down that path,” the official added.
The Biden administration has been mounting an intensive campaign to discourage Iran, its proxies and Israel from undertaking military action that would escalate tensions in the region as Washington tries to salvage prospects of a cease-fire in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the U.S. has communicated “that message directly to Iran,” though he didn’t provide details of what was said or how it was communicated.
The U.S. message to Tehran, officials said, wasn’t intended as a threat to carry out U.S. military action against targets in Iran but was intended as a warning about the risks of provoking a robust military response from Israel.