U.S. intelligence indicates that Tehran has not backed down from its threat to attack Israel, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in Washington on Thursday.
“Hopefully it doesn’t come to that,” Kirby added during an interview with CNN.
There have been conflicting reports as to whether Tehran will attack Israel and what form it could take since Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered a response, hours after Hamas terrorist chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital on July 31.
The Islamic Republic on Tuesday rejected calls by Western countries to back down from its threat to attack the Jewish state.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that the calls from France, Germany and Britain to exercise restraint “lack political logic and contradict principles of international law.”
Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of targeting Haniyeh, but Jerusalem has not taken responsibility for his death. Separately, Hezbollah has vowed revenge for the killing in Beirut of its top commander Fuad Shukr, which Israel did take credit for.
Kirby also commented on Thursday’s Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha, Qatar, saying that the U.S. “urges all parties” to participate in the negotiations.
Hamas is refusing to send representatives to the session but an official briefed on the talks told Reuters that the terrorist group would be consulted after they conclude.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said he expects Iran to hold off attacking Israel if a ceasefire agreement is reached.
Asked by reporters during a visit to New Orleans on Tuesday whether a deal could prevent a promised attack, the president replied, “That’s my expectation.”