America's Campaign Against Iran; Biden and Harris Meet with Security Officials

As reports emerge regarding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' transfer of missiles and launch platforms ahead of a potential retaliatory attack by Iran on Israel, the United States has launched a pressure campaign aimed at limiting Iran and Hezbollah's actions. Concurrently, on Tuesday, Washington continued efforts to form a military coalition in support of Israel. The White House announced that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were updated by their national security team on developments in the Middle East, including threats from Iran and its affiliated forces against American troops. Three American officials told Axios that during a special National Security Council meeting at the White House on Monday night, attended by the President and Vice President, Biden stated that the timing and details of Iran's attack remain unclear. The report indicates that intelligence officials informed Biden and Harris that U.S. intelligence agencies expect a scenario involving two waves of attacks, one from Hezbollah and another from Iran, accompanied by additional attacks from other Tehran-backed groups. However, these sources told Axios that U.S. intelligence still does not know which actor will strike first and what weapons they will use. One of the sources discussed by Axios stated that both Iran and Hezbollah have not yet made a final decision on exactly what actions to take. Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated on Monday that Israel will receive a 'strong response,' but when, where, and how remains unknown to Israel. Israeli officials, while expressing readiness to confront any threat, warned that the gap between defensive efforts and offensive actions could be very short. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that according to American officials, Iran has moved its missile launch platforms in anticipation of an attack on Israel and has conducted military exercises in this regard. Unnamed American sources have indicated that Iran's movements may signal preparations for an attack in the coming days. In response to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, following his participation in the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president on August 1, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has emphasized 'vengeance.' Government sources in Iran interpret 'vengeance' as the necessity to take revenge on Israel, which has caused bloodshed in Israel. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the elimination of Ismail Haniyeh but has taken responsibility for the death of Fawad Shukr, a senior military commander of Hezbollah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut shortly before Haniyeh's assassination. American Diplomatic Campaign Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with numerous officials in the region on Monday, emphasizing the need to exert pressure on Iran and Hezbollah. Biden spoke by phone with King Abdullah II of Jordan, who had sent his foreign minister to Tehran on Sunday. Blinken also spoke on Monday night with Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar, whose country plays a key role in mediating indirect negotiations between Israel and the extremist group Hamas regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. On Monday night, Blinken also consulted with Sameh Shoukry, his Egyptian counterpart, whose government also plays a similar role in ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza war. Blinken also expressed 'deep' concerns from G7 members regarding the escalation of the crisis and widespread conflict in the region. Blinken stated during a meeting with his Australian counterpart in Washington that the situation in the Middle East has reached a critical juncture. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, said on Monday that the Biden administration has conveyed to Iran that the United States will defend Israel in the event of an attack. Miller stated that the U.S. considers such an attack inevitable but is working to prevent it. According to him, officials from the countries with which the U.S. Secretary of State spoke were united in their firm opposition to any response from Iran regarding the killing of Ismail Haniyeh. This State Department spokesperson said: 'The consensus position from these countries is that Iran should not take further action, and we repeatedly hear (from these countries) that further actions will only escalate tensions, increase the risk of conflict spreading, and lead to a loss of control.' According to ABC News, Blinken also emphasized on Sunday night in conversations with his counterparts in the G7 industrial countries that governments should encourage Israel to exercise restraint following actions by Iran and Hezbollah and continue efforts for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza. Israeli Kan news reported that leaders of a multinational coalition led by the U.S., preparing to defend Israel, have warned Benjamin Netanyahu that he should not react strongly to the potential upcoming attacks from Iran and Hezbollah and should 'think carefully' before responding to such an attack. CENTCOM Commander's Meeting with Israeli Army Commanders While U.S. diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis between Iran and Israel continue, General Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of CENTCOM (U.S. Central Forces), visited Israel to coordinate U.S. military support for the country against a potential Iranian attack, meeting with Israel's Defense Minister and Chief of Staff. According to the Israeli army, Hertzi Halevi and General Kurilla assessed the situation during their meeting on Monday and discussed joint preparedness in the region as part of the response to threats in the Middle East. Following the meeting between the Israeli Defense Minister and the CENTCOM commander in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Defense Ministry also stated that Yoav Gallant discussed 'coordinating defensive activities and ways to expand the international coalition in confronting Iran's aggressive actions and Tehran's proxy forces.' General Gallant reiterated on Monday during a visit to the Israeli Air Force Command that the gap between defensive and offensive actions could be very short, and Israeli fighters and forces are prepared to quickly transition from defense to offense. Iran states that the 'punishment' of Israel will be 'decisive and undeniable.' Additionally, Yoav Gallant spoke again on Tuesday morning with Lloyd Austin, his American counterpart. The Israeli and American defense ministers agreed that the attack on Monday night on the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq was a 'dangerous escalation' of the situation. In that missile attack attributed to Tehran's allied forces, five American soldiers were injured. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Israel Katz, the country's foreign minister, received a message from his Hungarian counterpart on Monday night, informing Israel that an attack by Iran on the country is certain. According to this report, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister of Hungary, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, conveyed a message from Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's foreign minister, to Israel. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, reassured the Israeli public on Monday night that the army would inform them of any necessary changes for living under the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran, should it become imminent. A statement issued by Israel on Monday evening also assured the people of the country that Israel's allied countries are partners in defending the country in the event of a serious threat in the region. The New York Times: Iran's Request to Russia for Defense Systems Meanwhile, as the U.S. attempts to form a military coalition in support of Israel and concerns grow in the region about the escalation of war, Sergei Shoigu, the head of Russia's Security Council, made an unannounced visit to Tehran on Monday, meeting with President Massoud Pezeshkian, his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and Mohammad Bagheri, the head of the Iranian armed forces. Shoigu's sudden trip to Tehran amidst the regional crisis has drawn global attention to the role Russia may play in this situation, while Russia itself has been engaged in war for two and a half years following its invasion of Ukraine. The New York Times, citing 'Iranian sources,' including an IRGC official, claimed that Tehran has requested air defense equipment from Russia. The report claims that Russia has begun transferring advanced radars and some air defense equipment to Iran. Russia had previously refrained from providing air defense systems to Iran, with which it had signed contracts during a period of close relations with Israel. Meanwhile, at the regional level, a series of diplomatic movements among leaders and officials are underway to prevent the escalation of the crisis between Israel and Iran. Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, discussed the importance of containing the situation and preventing the crisis from widening during a phone call with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France. In a direct military attack four months ago by Iran on Israel, Saudi Arabia was part of the intelligence force in a Western and regional coalition that helped intercept over 300 Iranian projectiles.