Reporter Presses John Kirby On Why Biden Has Not Responded To Iranian-Backed Attacks On US Forces
On 10/26/2023, FOX News White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich asked John Kirby, “John, the President said that if Iran or its proxies attacked U.S. troops that we would respond. So, what is he waiting for exactly?

MR. KIRBY: He did say that.
Heinrich: Where is the response?
MR. KIRBY: He said that. And he said that we will —
Heinrich: So, repeating the warning is the response?
MR. KIRBY: Jacqui, come on now.
Heinrich: It’s an honest question.

MR. KIRBY: I’m not going to telegraph punches here from the podium. We have responded and retaliated in the past — quite aggressively, in fact, back in March. And as the President said: We will not hesitate to protect our troops and our facilities, but we’re going to do it at a time of our choosing in a manner of our choosing. And the decision to do it, if we do it, is his as Commander-in-Chief and his alone.

Heinrich: You said that he issued a warning to the Ayatollah this morning. He talked about it yesterday. How was that warning delivered?

MR. KIRBY: I’m not going to get into that.

Heinrich: Can you say if there was a phone call or if there was a third party? Was there a message that was relayed after U.S. troops were injured?

MR. KIRBY: There was a direct message relayed. That’s as far as I’m going to go.
Heinrich: And then why were the injuries not disclosed until Tuesday?
MR. KIRBY: I’d have to refer you to the Pentagon on that.

Q: U.S. approved a visa for Iran’s foreign minister this week? A:
Heinrich: And can you also say why the U.S. approved a visa for Iran’s foreign minister, who is in New York this week? The Wall Street Journal reported that he partook in at least two planning meetings in Lebanon with Hezbollah, the Islamic Jihad, and Hamas leading up to the October 7th attack.

MR. KIRBY: The Secretary-General called a meeting at the foreign ministerial level. He’s the foreign minister of Iran. We are the host of the U.N. We take that responsibility seriously. Do we particularly like the fact that he’s on U.S. soil? No. But unlike a lot of other countries around the world, we take those responsibilities, those rules seriously. And so, we allowed him to come in to attend these meetings. And we hope — quite frankly, we’re certainly going to take advantage of the opportunity — we hope others at the U.N. take advantage of the opportunity — to ask tough questions of him and what his country is doing to support these militia groups and what his country is doing to support Hamas and Hezbollah. This is an opportunity for world leaders who are up — up there in New York to — to make their perspectives and their concerns known directly to the Iranian foreign minister.

Kirby Won’t Comment On Biden Pentagon Official Named As Part Of Iranian Influence Peddling Scheme
Reporter: And there’s a Pentagon official, Ariane Tabatabai — I believe I’m saying her last name correctly — she was alleged to be involved in an Iranian government influence operation. There was some discussion about whether she should keep her security clearance. She did. But she’s now the Chief of Staff for the office that’s overseeing hostage negotiations. Is it appropriate for someone with these connections to the Iranian regime to be overseeing rescue operations for Americans that are being held by Iran-backed proxies?

MR. KIRBY: I’d have to refer you to the Defense Department to speak to that, Jacqui.

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Kirby Won’t Comment On Biden Pentagon Official Iranian Influence Peddling Scheme, Responded To Iran