David Ignatius, a commentator close to the White House, writes in the Washington Post that President Biden's efforts to persuade Iran to respond moderately to Haniyeh’s assassination may be successful. Official sources claim that Tehran may reconsider its response plans in light of the knowledge that Haniyeh was indeed killed by a pre-planted device, which could affect the nature of their reaction.
Another factor that could influence and potentially mitigate the Iranian response is the display of military strength by the United States in the Middle East. The U.S. military is deployed and prepared in the region to protect Israel. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed several countries that this is a "critical moment" for the Middle East and that escalation should be avoided. He stated: "We have made it clear directly to both Iran and Israel that neither should escalate the conflict in the Middle East."
Blinken further added: "Everyone in the region needs to understand that additional attacks only perpetuate conflict, instability, and insecurity. The negotiations for a hostage deal have reached a critical stage—it's crucial that the parties work to reach an agreement as soon as possible."
