Biden's Reaction to Iran-Pakistan Clashes: The Islamic Republic is 'Not Preferred' in the Region

U.S. President Joe Biden, in response to the reciprocal attacks between the Islamic Republic and Pakistan, stated that it indicates the Islamic Republic is 'not preferred' in the region. On Thursday, January 18, Biden told reporters that the clashes between Iran and Pakistan show that the Islamic Republic is 'not preferred.' He added that the United States is monitoring the situation, and it is unclear where the developments will lead. In this context, John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, also told reporters that the U.S. does not want to see an escalation of tensions between Iran and Pakistan. Kirby added: 'We are watching this [situation] very, very closely. We do not want to see an escalation of tensions in South and Central Asia.' The U.S. is in contact with Pakistani officials. Biden's comments came after Pakistan's retaliatory attack on the 'area' of Saravan County in Sistan and Baluchestan province, which Iranian officials said resulted in the deaths of '9 people,' including two men, three women, and four children. A Pakistani security official told CNN that the country targeted 'seven points inside Iran' in its retaliatory attacks. Reuters also published a statement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, which stated that the country targeted 'separatist militants' on Iranian soil during 'a series of fully coordinated and precise military attacks' and killed 'a number of terrorists.' The ministry described the purpose of the attacks as 'to ensure the security and national interests of Pakistan' while stating that it 'fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.' Meanwhile, Iranian news agencies reported early Thursday that Alireza Marhamati, the security and police deputy of Sistan and Baluchestan province, announced that in a 'missile attack' from Pakistan on the 'area' of Saravan County, '9 people' were killed, including two men, three women, and four children. Marhamati claimed they were 'non-Iranian.' Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi also confirmed this claim. Another report indicated the 'destruction' of several residential units in the attack area. At the same time, Nasser Kan'ani, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, condemned Pakistan's action, stating that the 'Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy' in Tehran would be summoned to the Foreign Ministry. 'An informed source' also told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that while 'strongly condemning these attacks,' the Islamic Republic 'demands an immediate explanation from Pakistani officials regarding this incident.' Hours before Iranian officials confirmed the occurrence of attacks on Iranian soil, a page attributed to the Pakistani army on the social media platform 'X' announced that it had attacked the bases of 'terrorists' in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran, causing significant damage. The Halosh news agency also reported that the Hak-Abad and Shamsar areas in Saravan County were targeted in missile attacks. Saravan, part of Sistan and Baluchestan, is located 347 kilometers southeast of Zahedan, the provincial capital, and borders Pakistan. These attacks occurred two days after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted a 'missile and drone' attack on Pakistani territory, claiming to target the positions of the armed group 'Jaish al-Adl' in that country. The Pakistani government strongly condemned the Islamic Republic's attack on its territory in a statement on Tuesday, January 16, stating that 'two innocent children' were killed and three girls were injured in the attack. Pakistan also recalled its ambassador from Tehran in protest and canceled all meetings between high-ranking officials of the country and officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that 'Jaish al-Adl' takes refuge in Pakistan and uses its territory to attack inside Iran. The group Jundallah and all its new names, including Jaish al-Adl, are listed as terrorist organizations by the United States. On Wednesday, the public relations office of the IRGC's Quds Headquarters in southeastern Iran reported the death of one of its members in Sistan and Baluchestan province. According to this statement, Hossein Ali Javadanfar, a member of the IRGC's Salman Corps of Sistan and Baluchestan, was shot and killed on the road from Khash to Zahedan on Wednesday evening, January 27. The Quds Headquarters introduced Javadanfar as a 'cultural expert of the IRGC' with an 'administrative mission' to 'follow up on cultural activities' during his trip to Saravan County. The statement noted: 'Efforts to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators of this act are underway.' The Halosh website, which covers news related to Sistan and Baluchestan, referred to the killed IRGC member as the 'deputy commander of the Saravan IRGC,' who was shot by armed individuals on the Saravan-Khash axis. According to Halosh, passengers in a vehicle belonging to the IRGC were also shot and killed on the Zahedan axis near the Junabad checkpoint. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. Pakistan's anger over the deadly attack by the Islamic Republic; Islamabad recalled its ambassador from Tehran. Pakistan confirmed the occurrence of an attack from inside Iran on its territory; 'two innocent children' were killed. The IRGC confirmed the attack with 'missiles and drones' on Pakistani territory. The IRGC's missile attack on northern Iraq and claims of attacking 'terrorist positions' in Syria; the U.S. condemned it. Reactions to the labeling of the victims of the Pakistan attack as 'foreign nationals': 'They are the truest children of Iran.' The price of the U.S. dollar in Iran surpassed 54,000 tomans after the deadly attack by Pakistan. The U.S. stated that Iran's recent missile attacks violate the sovereignty of Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan.