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Transcript/ScriptUS MILITARY – MIDDLE EAST
HEADLINE: White House Vows Response to Drone Strike Blamed on Iran
TEASER: ‘We are not looking for a war with Iran,’ White House says amid vow to react after drone strike blamed on Iranian backed groups kills 3 U.S. soldiers
PUBLISHED AT: Tuesday, 01/30/2024 at 00:01 EST
BYLINE: Anita Powell
CONTRIBUTOR: Kambiz Tavana, Nike Ching
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR: Kim Dickens
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush (1st and bal), Megan Duzor
VIDEO SOURCES: AP, AFP, Zoom, Skype and Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:04
VID APPROVED BY: pcd
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: part no use Persian service – see script))
((INTRO:))
[[The White House says it’s not seeking war with Iran, amid President Joe Biden’s vow to respond to a drone strike that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan, an act Washington blames on Iranian-backed militias. Congress is pressuring the White House to strike back, which is likely to further escalate and expand the conflict sparked by Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israeli citizens. VOA’s Anita Powell reports from Washington. ]]
((NARRATOR))
The White House is under pressure to react after a drone strike Sunday killed three U.S. service members in Jordan, an act Washington blames on Iranian-backed militias operating in nearby Syria and Iraq.
On Monday, administration officials expressed confidence that Iran was behind the attack but did not give details. Nor would officials lay out their next move.
((Radio: John Kirby is director of strategic communications for the National Security Council))
((John Kirby, National Security Council))
“I'm not going to telegraph any punches here from the podium. Nor will I get in front of the president or his decision-making. // As he said yesterday, we will respond. We'll do that on our schedule and our time, and we'll do it in the manner of the president's choosing, as commander-in-chief, will also do it fully cognizant of the fact that these groups, backed by Tehran, have just taken the lives of American troops.”
((NARRATOR))
But, Kirby said, one thing is clear:
((John Kirby, National Security Council))
“We are not looking for a war with Iran. We are not seeking a conflict with the regime in the military way.”
((OPT this out for Persian service or fill with different footage))
((NARRATOR))
Iranian officials on Monday denied responsibility.
((SOT, Farsi, AP-4475319))
((Radio: Nasser Kanaani is the spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs))
((Nasser Kanaani, Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs))
"We are not seeking tensions even with America, inside or outside the region. The Islamic Republic of Iran seriously believes in political solutions to international and regional disputes."
((END OPT))
((NARRATOR))
The head of NATO, in Washington on Monday, also expressed his concerns and pointed a finger at Iran.
((Radio: Jens Stoltenberg is secretary-general of NATO))
((Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General))
“We see Iran continue to destabilize the region. Iran also bears responsibility for backing terrorists who attack ships in the Red Sea. Tehran's behavior reminds us of what a world without rules looks like: unpredictable and dangerous, a world where our security becomes more expensive. “
((NARRATOR))
It is also clear that this strike is part of the fallout from Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza after militant group Hamas conducted a stunning attack on civilians on October 7. And, analysts say, one more thing is clear:
((Radio: Bernard Hudson was the CIA’s former chief of counterterrorism. He spoke to VOA’s Persian Service via Zoom.))
((Bernard Hudson, Former CIA Official)) ((Zoom))
“Clearly, the U.S. strategy — if it was, starting three months ago, not to let regional tensions escalate – that strategy has failed.”
((OPT))
((NARRATOR))
And from Jordan’s capital – far from the drone strike — residents and analysts say they feel this represents a new phase in this conflict.
((Radio: Amer Sabaileh is a political analyst))
((Amer Sabaileh, Political Analyst))
“This attack represents a new dimension of this conflict, actually. Targeting the American troops inside Jordan or on the Jordanian border represents that this targeting is expanding from Syria to Iraq and now to Jordan.”
((END OPT))
((NARRATOR))
So what now? It rests on these shoulders.
((Radio: President Joe Biden))
((Joe Biden, US President))
“We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases. I’m asking for a moment of silence for all three of our fallen soldiers.” (Biden during moment) “And we shall respond. God bless you all.”
((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Washington D. C.
Embargo DateJanuary 29, 2024 22:56 EST
Byline
Anita Powell, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
