According to a NEWSMAX report, U.S. intelligence signaled to Iran via diplomatic back-channels that an attack on Israel would be okay “within certain limits.”
From NEWSMAX:
Iran informed Turkey in advance of its planned operation against Israel, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters on Sunday, adding that the Biden administration had conveyed to Tehran via Ankara that any action it took had to be “within certain limits.”
Turkey, which has denounced Israel for its campaign on Gaza, said earlier on Sunday that it did not want a further escalation of tensions in the region.
The Turkish source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had spoken to both his U.S. and Iranian counterparts in the past week to discuss the planned Iranian operation, adding Ankara had been made aware of possible developments.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Fidan to make clear that escalation in the Middle East was not in anyone’s interest.
“Iran informed us in advance of what would happen. Possible developments also came up during the meeting with Blinken, and they [the U.S.] conveyed to Iran through us that this reaction must be within certain limits,” the source said.
“In response, Iran said the reaction would be a response to Israel’s attack on its embassy in Damascus and that it would not go beyond this.”
During a phone call over the weekend, President Biden reportedly told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not support Israel in a retaliatory attack against Iran.
This story is developing…
President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call that Washington will not support an Israeli retaliatory attack for Iran's drone and missile assault, according to a report. MORE: https://t.co/J69okgeIxS pic.twitter.com/gOAqXuqQIi
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 15, 2024