State Department Denies Pushing Gaza Ceasefire in Back Channel Talks with Iran
State Department Denies Secret Israeli Ceasefire Push by Biden Administration
The Iranian claims that the Biden administration is secretly pushing an Israeli ceasefire through back channel diplomacy with Tehran are categorically false, the State Department told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday.
The Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, raised eyebrows in Washington, D.C.’s foreign policy community this week when he claimed that the Biden administration recently informed Tehran about leaning on Israel to implement a ceasefire in its ongoing war against the Hamas terror group, which Iran supports.
“The U.S. sent us a message during the past three days, claiming to be looking for a ceasefire, but in practice, they supported the genocide and crimes committed by the Zionists in Gaza,” Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as saying in the country’s state-controlled press, indicating that the United States’ public support for Israel is at odds with its diplomacy behind the scenes.
When asked about these comments on Tuesday, a State Department spokesman flatly denied the Iranian official’s claims but did not address questions about whether the Biden administration is pushing for a ceasefire.
“That statement is categorically false,” the State Department said. “We have made clear to Iran that it should not seek to expand the conflict and the consequences should it choose to do so. We have also made clear publicly and privately that we demand the release of hostages held by Hamas.”
While the Biden administration initially offered full American support for Israel’s defensive war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have suggested a temporary pause to deliver humanitarian aid to citizens under siege.
Biden and Blinken have rejected calls from Arab nations and Democratic politicians to push Israel into a ceasefire, stating that a ceasefire would allow Hamas to rearm itself and continue attacking the Jewish state.
Anti-Israel Democrats in Congress have accused the Biden administration of supporting Israel’s alleged “genocide” of the Palestinian people—allegations that have been echoed by a growing chorus of Biden administration members who oppose the president’s full-throated support for Israel.
A State Department employee, Sylvia Yacoub, has been using social media to accuse Biden of “genocide,” warning that the president’s support for the Jewish state will harm the Democrat’s 2024 reelection campaign, as the Free Beacon first reported last week.
Internal dissent within the Biden administration threatens to undercut American support for Israel as it faces one of the most significant threats in its history.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to offer support to Hamas and rally Arab nations against the Jewish state. Tehran’s terrorist proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, continue to launch attacks on Israel and U.S. military positions in Iraq and Syria, posing a larger Middle East war threat.
What steps has the United States taken to prevent further escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and ensure the release of hostages
The State Department’s denial of secret Israeli ceasefire push by the Biden administration has raised eyebrows in the international community. Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, claimed that the Biden administration had informed Tehran about pressuring Israel to implement a ceasefire in its ongoing conflict with the Hamas terror group, which Iran supports. These claims, however, have been categorically denied by the State Department.
Amir-Abdollahian’s comments have generated interest as they suggest that the United States’ public support for Israel may conflict with its behind-the-scenes diplomatic maneuverings. According to reports in Iran’s state-controlled press, the Minister stated that the US had sent a message during the past three days, claiming to be seeking a ceasefire, but in practice, supported the actions of the Israeli forces in Gaza. These statements indicate a discrepancy between the US’ public stance and its private diplomacy.
When questioned about these remarks, the State Department spokesperson flatly denied the Iranian official’s claims. However, they did not address questions concerning whether the Biden administration is indeed pushing for a ceasefire. The spokesperson stated that the Iranian minister’s statement was categorically false. They further emphasized that the US has consistently urged Iran not to escalate the conflict and warned about the consequences if it chooses to do so. The State Department has also made it clear, both publicly and privately, that they demand the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The allegations made by Iran’s foreign minister have added another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. While the official stance of the United States remains supportive of Israel, these claims hint at potential behind-the-scenes negotiations taking place. However, as of now, the Biden administration is denying any secret Israeli ceasefire push, asserting that their focus lies on preventing further escalation of the conflict and advocating for the release of hostages. The true nature of their diplomatic efforts can only be speculated upon, as much of it remains undisclosed.
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