- Israel is weighing its response to an Iranian missile strike, with U.S. support influencing their decision.
- Oil prices jumped 5%, and there’s concern the conflict could draw in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Israeli officials are considering how to respond after an Iranian missile strike on Wednesday, which caused little damage, but definitely had the potential to do so.
Their next steps could depend on the U.S. stance. President Joe Biden reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel but made it clear on Wednesday that he would not support Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Oil prices have already jumped 5% after Biden mentioned discussions about possible Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil industry. Iran, the world’s seventh-largest oil producer, exports about half of its oil, mainly to China.
If tensions escalate into a broader conflict, Iran might be expected to draw Israel’s regional allies, including Saudi Arabia (an even larger oil producer than Iran) and Jordan, into the confrontation.
