On Monday’s CNN News Central broadcast, John Kirby, the president’s national security adviser, said Iran’s attacks were “escalating” and a “huge step in the wrong direction.” However, “just because Iran carried out this unprecedented attack and we, our Israeli partners, and other partners stopped it does not mean we should simply accept the continued escalation in the region. The president isn’t going to accept that. He wants to see things calm down, and everything we do going forward will be designed to continue trying to reach that outcome. ” Kirby also said it was up to Israel to decide how to respond.
Co-host Kate Bolduan said, “You’ve made it clear that the Biden administration’s position is that you don’t want this to turn into a broader regional conflict. I don’t think you’re saying that. I asked him several times. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he responded to your talking about this yesterday by saying he was wrong to say he didn’t want escalation. His point is that it has already escalated, and this unprecedented direct attack from Iran is an escalation. What is your reply? ”
“There is no question that what Iran tried to do – and I emphasize the word ‘attempted to’ – was an escalation phase,” Kirby said. It was an unprecedented air raid. And we never saw it. It’s a big step in the wrong direction. But what didn’t happen and what didn’t happen. Let’s talk about this because the United States is honoring our commitment to support Israel’s defense and that Iran has carried out this unprecedented attack and that we and our Israeli partners and others have thwarted it. That doesn’t mean we should just accept the ever-increasing escalation in the region. The president is not going to accept that. He wants to see things calm down. Everything we do going forward will be designed to continue striving to reach that outcome.”
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