National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan vows ‘further action’ against Iran-backed terrorists in the Middle East
On Sunday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan refrained from categorically ruling out potential U.S. strikes within Iran, emphasizing that President Biden is, however, “not seeking to engage in a war” in the Middle East.
Sullivan made appearances on Sunday programs aired by CNN, ABC, and NBC. This came in the wake of the United States and the United Kingdom initiating a substantial airstrike campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Friday. The airstrikes were carried out in retaliation for the death of three U.S. service members and the injury of over 40 others in Jordan near the Syrian border.
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“The president has adopted a clear principle in dealing with this situation, emphasizing that the United States will act decisively in response to attacks on our forces. Simultaneously, the United States is not seeking to escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East. We have no intention of leading the United States into a war.
Therefore, our approach will continue to follow both of these lines concurrently – responding with force and clarity, as evidenced by our actions on Friday night. At the same time, we are committed to a strategy that avoids entangling the United States in a war, a scenario that has occurred too frequently in the Middle East,” Sullivan conveyed to CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
“Inside Iran? Would you rule that out at this point?” Bash asked.
“Look, sitting on a national TV program, I’m not going to definitively exclude or include any specific actions in any location. What I will say is that the president will take the necessary steps as he sees fit. I want to reiterate that he is committed to defending our forces and reemphasize that he has no intention of entering into a war,” Sullivan responded.
Bash pointed out Republican criticism, stating that the Biden administration should have taken action before the three U.S. casualties, especially considering over 150 attacks on U.S. troops since Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel.
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“We have responded on multiple occasions before the tragic events of a few days ago. Strikes have been conducted against targets in both Iraq and Syria, targeting facilities associated with the IRGC and militias. Additionally, we have eliminated a militia leader in Iraq. The assertion that we have not responded is simply incorrect. Another important point is that I didn’t hear these same voices, mostly sounding like political voices, making similar claims when American service members were tragically killed by these same militias in the previous administration. This is a complex and challenging issue that every president over the past 20 years has grappled with, and each has endeavored to protect American forces,” Sullivan stated.
Meanwhile, Iran issued a warning on Sunday to the U.S. regarding the potential targeting of two cargo ships in the Middle East, namely the Behshad and Saviz. These ships have long been suspected of operating as forward bases for Iranian commandos, indicating Tehran’s increasing apprehension in response to the recent U.S. strikes in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, which targeted militias supported by the Islamic Republic.
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Sullivan explained, “The primary objective of the strikes has been to neutralize capabilities of the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, which pose a threat to our forces, and to address the ongoing threat from the Houthis that endangers shipping in the Red Sea. We believe these strikes have been effective in diminishing the capabilities of the militias and the Houthis.”
“This marks the commencement of our response. Additional measures will follow,” Sullivan informed ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “Some of these actions will be visible, while others may not be, but there will be further steps taken to address the tragic deaths of the three courageous U.S. service members. We cannot discount the possibility of subsequent attacks from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria or from the Houthis. It’s crucial to acknowledge this reality. The president, recognizing this, has directed his military commanders to be prepared to respond to any further attacks.”
Sullivan, during his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” addressed criticism from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has argued that the Biden administration has been engaging in appeasement toward Iran.
“I find it somewhat peculiar. The president had already stated, even before the attack on Tower 22 in Jordan and the tragic loss of our brave service members, that we would retaliate if attacked. So, Iran and its militia groups were aware that the United States would respond. We believe that the strikes had positive outcomes. While there will always be critics offering hindsight opinions, we are assured of the measures we’ve taken thus far and are confident in the direction we are heading,” Sullivan remarked.
Johnson responded, appearing later on the same program.
“I do take issue with some of what Jake Sullivan just said. I listened to that interview, and it was interesting. We must be crystal clear with Iran that no options are off the table. We should not be appeasing Iran,” Johnson told NBC host Kristen Welker. “That’s precisely what the Biden administration has been doing for the last three years. We are projecting weakness on the world stage. Frankly, Kristen, that is why our adversaries are acting so provocatively. What we should be doing right now is increasing pressure on Iran.”