U.S. forces in Jordan were attacked by an unmanned aircraft, killing three servicemen and wounding dozens more. This is the first death of a US team member in the Middle East since October. The Biden administration must make a difficult choice about how to deal with Iran and its activities in Syria and Iraq. If the reaction is too violent, it could start a large-scale war against Iran; If the response is too weak, it risks losing its deterrent effect in the face of Iran and incurring accusations from its own country.
Biden blamed the attack on armed groups behind Iran and said he would "respond with our own will, with our own will." However, he did not give a detailed plan, nor did he make any direct condemnation of Iran**. Defense Department spokesman Pat Rader said the United States would do everything in its power to safeguard its military capabilities, but would not intervene in a wider war.
Iran has refused to admit its involvement in the attack and has refused to take responsibility for the actions of its allies. Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian said that the United States should use a way opposite to force to deal with contradictions in the Middle East. He added that Iran is looking for an "aggressive" diplomatic approach to the war in Gaza and other problems in the region.
Relations between the United States and Iran have become very tense since Hamas attacked Israel with missiles in October. The United States has supported Israel's military activities and has sent additional naval and air forces to the region. The United States also carried out rocket attacks on Yemen to curb Iran's Houthi military operations in the Red Sea region. Iran's military alliances include Hamas, the Houthi militia, and Allah in Lebanon.
The United States sees Iran's assistance as an important factor in the destabilization of the situation in the Middle East, and Iran believes that the United States should put pressure on Israel to stop its repression of the Palestinians.
For Biden's administration, the problem is to protect U.S. interests while preventing a head-on collision with Iran. Some scholars believe that the United States will not launch an attack on Iranian territory as a retaliation as a limited attack on Iran's activities in Syria and Iraq. The danger is that Iran could retaliate and further exacerbate the situation.
Biden also has to face political pressure from the United States, especially in the first year. Some Republicans have denounced him for being too soft on Iran and for failing to defend the interests of U.S. allies and countries. Biden also faces the problem of rising oil, which will damage the recovery of the United States and the confidence of the people in him.
How the United States responds to the Iranian issue is not only an issue of bilateral relations, but also a major issue of the situation in the Middle East. Mr. Biden needs to balance the severity and restraint of the United States while maintaining its own interests and the risks it faces.