As it tries to prevent Israel-related conflicts from getting any worse, the Biden administration is dealing with complicated dynamics in the Middle East.
The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as part of a diplomatic tour aimed at bolstering relations with Iran’s Arab neighbors while the Middle East remains on edge in anticipation of a possible retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran.
Wednesday’s scheduled important diplomatic meeting will not take place: Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, was scheduled to meet with American officials in Washington to discuss the Middle East situation. However, Mr. Gallant stated on Wednesday that he had postponed the visit at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request, which was to wait until he had spoken with President Biden.
The outcomes of the two visits showed how difficult it is for the Biden administration to navigate the complicated dynamics of the region in its efforts to calm the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and avert a third between Israel and Iran. Mr. Gallant’s trip has been postponed as a result of increased tensions between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu regarding Israel’s conduct of its wars in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as discussions between the two governments regarding how Israel should respond to Iran’s missile barrage last week.
