Biden spotted using prepared script during meeting with Iraq PM
United States President Joe Biden was seen referring to prepared remarks while interacting with the press during an Oval Office meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia'a Al-Sudani on Monday (local time). According to reports, the US president used a script to make his first public statement since Iran's attack on Israel. The script also reportedly included an all-caps stage direction on when he would need to pause in his comments so an interpreter could translate.
Biden has used notes during press conferences before
Throughout the sit-down in the Oval Office, President Biden was seen frequently consulting his notes. As reported by The New York Post, Al-Sudani did not appear to use any similar aids during the meeting. This is not the first time Biden has been seen using note cards. He was spotted using a similar card in April 2023, in which there was purportedly a question from a reporter even before the press's discussion.
Biden expresses US support for Israel
Before his meeting with Al-Sudani, President Biden had a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 13. He reportedly extended the US's support to Israel during the conversation. Biden also urged Netanyahu to restrain Israel's responses to Iran's attack. "The United States is committed to Israel's security. We are committed to a cease-fire [between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip] that will bring the hostages home...and prevent...conflict from spreading beyond," Biden said during his remarks on Monday.
Iran's foreign minister comments on attack on Israel
Separately, Iran's foreign minister, Hoeein Amirabdollahian, stated that the US had been notified prior to the attack on Israel. "Early Sunday in a message to the White House we announced that our operation would be limited and minimalistic and aimed at legitimate defense and punishing the Israeli regime," Amirabdollahian said, per reports. "In our response, we defined no response against civilian targets. Our armed forces targeted no economic or populated areas," he added.
