The United States remains firmly committed to defending Israel in the event of an Iranian attack, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday. Kirby also expressed optimism regarding a potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, Kirby acknowledged the unpredictability of an attack but emphasized that the U.S. takes Iranian threats seriously. “We believe that [Iran is] still postured and poised to launch an attack should they choose to, which is why we have an enhanced force posture in the region,” Kirby said.
Kirby delivered a clear message to Iran: “One, don’t do it. There’s no reason to escalate this. There’s no reason to potentially start some sort of all-out regional war. And number two, we are going to be prepared to defend Israel if it comes to that.”
The U.S. currently maintains two aircraft carrier strike groups and an additional squadron of F-22 fighter jets in the Middle East to bolster its defensive posture.
The backdrop to these tensions is Iran’s vow to retaliate for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed during a visit to Tehran last month. Iran has blamed Israel for the attack, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
Kirby also expressed cautious optimism about a potential ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which could bring an end to the 10-month conflict and secure the release of the remaining 108 Israeli hostages. He described the negotiations as “constructive” and looked forward to continued talks in Doha in the coming days.
Kirby refrained from assigning blame for the ongoing impasse, emphasizing that reaching a deal would require compromise and leadership from both Israel and Hamas. “The fact that we’ve moved on to another level here with working groups now in Doha is not a bad thing,” Kirby said. “It means that the sides are still talking, and there’s still hope that we can nail down these last few details and move forward.”
He added that Hamas’s continued participation in the discussions was a positive sign, indicating that no party has entirely withdrawn from the peace process.
