BIDEN "Israel should think of alternatives other than Iranian oil field offensive"

U.S. President Joe Biden has stressed the need to think of alternatives other than airstrikes on Iranian oil fields against Israel, which is discussing retaliation for Iranian missile strikes.

Asked during his first visit to the White House briefing room since taking office on the 5th local time if there were concerns that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was trying to influence the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, Biden said he did not think so.

National Economic Commission Chairman Rayal Brainard, who also participated in the briefing, said he was watching the impact of the Middle East crisis on oil prices and expected to see good supply to global markets and continued low gas prices in the U.S.

President Biden also objected to the outcome if former President Trump lost the U.S. presidential election, expressing concern that the same violent situation as in the last presidential election could occur.

Asked if he was confident the election would be free, fair and peaceful, Mr. Biden said he was confident it would be free and fair, but said he did not know if it would be peaceful.