Fox News Reporter Jacqui Heinrich presses the Biden administration on their failed Iran strategy:
“It’s clear obviously that ‘don’t’ didn’t work.”

Reporter: it sounded like the administration has ruled out strikes within Iran.

MR. KIRBY: Jacqui, I appreciate the question. I think you can understand — I hope you can understand I’m not going to telegraph punches here. We are not looking for a war with Iran. We are not looking to escalate the tensions any more than they already have been escalating.

Reporter: The question, though, was if you were actively considering targets inside Iran. And your answer was, “We don’t seek conflict with Iran,” which indicates that the administration would view strikes within Iran as escalatory. And so, is it that the administration ultimately does not hold Iran responsible for these attacks or that the current level of risk and loss to U.S. troops is somehow acceptable?

MR. KIRBY: I do appreciate the question and the chance to — to say it again: I am not going to telegraph punches for the President of the United States. I’m not going to

Reporter: So, it’s clear, obviously that “don’t” didn’t work. Does the President have any regret over not pushing — punching back harder in any of the prior responses that he’s taken to these proxy attacks on U.S. forces?

MR. KIRBY: I would — I think I would push back on the idea that we did push back harder. We have taken significant action against Iran economically. We have certainly taken some additional and more aggressive steps …

Reporter: There’s been pretty strong criticism though. Like, for instance, Mike Waltz said this morning that, “When you’re trying to play defense constantly, rather than punching back in a meaningful way, this blood is on this administration’s hands.” What — what is the response from the White House to an accusation like that?

MR. KIRBY: What I would tell you and I would tell the congressman is: We’re mindful of what Iran is doing in the region, and we have taken aggressive action against these proxy groups …

Q: failed Iran strategy obviously didn’t work, election polling, cut off Iran oil sales?