Iranian threats

Biden assures Israel of support in the event of an attack

(Bild: Associated Press)

In the face of threats of attack from Iran, the USA has assured Israel of its support. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed "the United States' support for Israel's security" in a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant, a spokesperson for the US State Department announced late Wednesday evening (local time).

Blinken made it clear that the USA would stand by Israel in the event of "any threats from Iran and its proxies". Following the recent suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated his threat against Israel on Wednesday. The attack was like an attack on Iranian territory, the religious leader said. "The wicked regime (Israel) has made a mistake, in this case it must be punished, and will be punished."

Tehran threatened retaliation several times
At the beginning of April, two brigadier generals and five other members of the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guards were killed in an airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus. Since then, the Iranian leadership has repeatedly threatened to retaliate - there are fears of an escalation. However, it remains to be seen how and when Iran will react.

Biden: "Iran is threatening a significant attack"
 However, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday at a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that Iran is "threatening a significant attack on Israel".

As he had already told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US commitment to Israel's security was "ironclad against these threats from Iran and its proxies", the US president said, adding: "Let me say it again: ironclad".