White House: United States 'not looking for conflict' with Iran
The White House said on Friday that the United States is not looking for conflict with Iran, even though they have conducted strikes against Yemen's Tehran-supported Huthi rebels in order to prevent their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in an interview with MSNBC, "Our intention is not to engage in conflict with Iran or raise tensions unnecessarily. There is no justification for the situation to intensify beyond the recent events."
- World
- AFP
- Published Date: 07:14 | 12 January 2024
- Modified Date: 10:56 | 12 January 2024
The United States does not seek conflict with Iran despite carrying out strikes on Yemen's Tehran-backed Huthi rebels to stop their attacks on Red Sea shipping, the White House said Friday.
"We're not looking for conflict with Iran. We're not looking to escalate and there's no reason for it to escalate beyond what happened over the last few days," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told MSNBC.
"That said... we know that Iran supports the Huthis. We know that they're supplying them with the missiles and the drones, the same things they've used to attack shipping.
"And we have made it very clear Iran should stop that support."
The Huthis said on Friday that US and British interests are now "legitimate targets" after the strikes, which US President Joe Biden said were designed to end their ability to attack ships.
But the White House spokesman warned the rebels against responding.
"I'd point them to the last sentence in the president's statement last night, which is that he reserves the right, and will not hesitate, to take further action," Kirby said.