Vedant Patel Asked If The US Was Given A Heads Up Before The Killing Of Ismail Haniyeh In Iran

2 months ago

At a State Department press briefing on Wednesday, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel was asked about

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Transcript

00:00We understand that the Israelis provided a heads-up ahead of the Beirut strike.

00:04Was a heads-up provided to the United States ahead of the targeting of Hanea?

00:08So what I can just say, Olivia, is that this is not something that we were involved in

00:12and I'm not going to get into more specific diplomatic conversations beyond that.

00:16Okay.

00:17And I know that you're not speculating about the fallout from here, but does the U.S. view

00:21this as a step as conducive to finalizing a ceasefire deal?

00:24Again, I think that's asking me to speculate on something in another way.

00:28I'm just not going to speculate on this.

00:31We are clear-eyed and focused on what the United States' priorities are and what we

00:35would like to see happen, and that is a continued focus on the diplomacy.

00:40Our team is continuing to work very hard to narrow and close the gaps.

00:45We continue to believe a deal is possible.

00:48Getting a deal done is of vital importance for so many reasons that I've spent much of

00:52this week talking about, whether it be bringing hostages home, whether it's getting an influx

00:56of humanitarian aid, being able to partake in diplomacy to get this cycle – this region

01:02out of endless cycles of violence.

01:04So for all those reasons and more, this is incredibly important and we'll remain focused

01:08on that.

01:09So without looking ahead, looking backwards, how essential had Hania been in these discussions?

01:13I mean, we know that ultimately, Yair Sinwar was signing off on decisions that Hamas was

01:18making, but how essential was Hania in the discussions to this point?

01:23So I'm not going to get into the specifics of that kind of – of those kinds of negotiations

01:30in terms of the pertinent actors and interlocutors.

01:34What I can say is through appropriate channels, we have been able to continue to communicate

01:40with Hamas and Israel, of course, as it relates to the contours of the deal and the negotiations

01:47that's on the table, and we continue to have confidence in our ability to do so and

01:51our ability to participate in these talks and work around the clock to get this deal

01:55done.

01:56So the Qataris have not signaled that they are no longer going to take part in these

01:59talks?

02:00I'm certainly not going to speak for another government.

02:04We've said that a couple times this week, but – so from the United States perspective,

02:09we continue to remain laser-focused on this.

02:12Qatar has been an irreplaceable partner throughout this whole conflict, dating back to even October

02:197th and beyond, and that continues to be the case.

02:22Can I –

02:23One more.

02:24Sorry.

02:25The supreme leader of Iran put out a tweet essentially saying it is our duty to take

02:28revenge.

02:29What does the United States know about possible retaliatory steps taken by Iran or its press?

02:34So I'm just not going to speculate on what the supreme leader may or may not be referring

02:38to and don't want to speculate on the actions that the Iranian regime may or may not take.

02:44We are continuing to urge restraint to all parties to avoid an escalation into a wider

02:50regional conflict.

02:51And as the Secretary said in Singapore, the United States was not involved in the attack

02:57in Tehran, but the United States, of course, will take every possible measure to appropriately

03:03and accurately protect our personnel, our interests in the region and beyond should

03:11we need to.

03:12What about those of the Israelis?

03:13Is there a commitment to come to Israel's defense or Iran?

03:15So you've heard me say this a number of times this week.

03:18Our commitment to Israel's security and defending them from malign attacks like those

03:24from reckless regimes like the Iranian regime, that is unwavering and ironclad, and that

03:30continues to be the case.

03:32Israel is, of course, a country that faces a number of threats purely based on just where

03:38they are in the world, and so that – our security relationship with them is unwavering.

03:43Our commitment to them is unwavering.

03:44But again, I'm not going to speculate on any actions that may or may not happen.

03:49I have one more on Russia.

03:50We'll come back.

03:51Yeah.

03:52Go ahead.

Vedant Patel Asked If The US Was Given A Heads Up Before The Killing Of Ismail Haniyeh In Iran

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