U.S. President Biden Expresses Concerns Over Iran-Pakistan Clashes, Calls for De-escalation
On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden commented on the recent clashes between Iran and Pakistan, expressing concerns and highlighting that Iran's regional standing might be less favorable. Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes on separatist militants inside Iranian territory two days after Tehran claimed to have targeted bases within Pakistani borders.
Biden remarked, "As you can see, Iran is not particularly well-liked in the region, and where that goes, we're working on now. I don't know where that goes."
The U.S. has been engaged in a tense standoff with Iran, primarily due to Iran's support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been launching attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby addressed reporters on Air Force One during Biden's trip to North Carolina, emphasizing that the U.S. is closely monitoring the Iran-Pakistan clashes. Kirby stated, "We don't want to see an escalation clearly in South and Central Asia. And we're in touch with our Pakistani counterparts."
The White House characterized the attack by Pakistan on Iran as another instance of Iran's destabilizing behavior in the region. The Biden administration seeks to avoid further escalation in the volatile South and Central Asian region and is engaging with regional partners to navigate the situation.
