US President Joe Biden has clearly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington will oppose any Israeli retaliatory attack against Iran. American news portal Axios quoted a senior White House official as saying that Biden, while praising the joint efforts of Israel, America and other countries to thwart the Iranian attack, told Netanyahu, "You have won, the victory has been achieved. Please accept.
News agency Xinhua quoted the official as saying that when Biden told Netanyahu that the US would not participate in any aggressive operation against Iran nor support any such operation, Netanyahu said that he understood his point. .
On Saturday night, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke for the second time with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon chief reiterated Washington's "ironclad" support for Israel's defense. Austin told Gallant that the US wants Israel to first inform Washington of any retaliatory action against Iran, Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli official.
John Kirby, the White House's top national security spokesperson that the United States will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war with Iran.
"We don't seek escalated tensions in the region. We don't seek a wider conflict," Kirby said.
Iran urges Israel not to retaliate militarily
Meanwhile, Iran on Sunday urged Israel not to retaliate militarily to an unprecedented attack overnight, which Tehran presented as a justified response to a deadly strike on its consulate building in Damascus.
"The matter can be deemed concluded," Iran's mission to the United Nations said in a post on social media platform X just a few hours after the start of the operation late Saturday.
"However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran's response will be considerably more severe," the Iranian mission warned.
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