Biden will not touch Iranian oil after strike on Israel, the US considers China's request

7 months ago
14

Iran's unprecedented strike on Israel is unlikely to prompt sharp sanctions on Iranian oil exports from the Biden administration due to concerns about rising oil prices and discontent among its largest buyer, China, Reuters said, citing analysts.
Shortly after Tehran launched an attack on Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, House Republican leaders accused President Joe Biden of weakness and said they would consider a series of bills this week to tighten sanctions on Iran.
Appearing on Fox News, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise said the Biden administration has made it easier for Iran to sell its oil, which it uses for military purposes.
According to Reuters, political pressure to punish Iran poses a difficult challenge for the US presidential administration: how to deter similar attacks in the future without escalating regional tensions, raising oil prices or confronting China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil.
According to former CIA official Scott Modell, even if Congress passes bills against Iran, it is difficult to imagine the Biden administration moving forward with new sanctions, for example, to try to reduce or limit Iranian oil exports in any meaningful way.
It is obvious that in the current geopolitical conditions and against the background of internal problems in the United States, the White House does not want to seriously expose itself to satisfy the whims of Tel Aviv.
According to ABC News, the US will not help Israel retaliate by launching offensive military operations in the wake of Iran’s missile and drone attack, Biden administration officials have privately warned.
Israel has promised a “response” following the massive Iranian attack on the country. According to a US official cited by ABC, this message was also delivered directly to Israel’s top brass in a private phone call on Sunday between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

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