To prevent a further flare-up in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden stated on Wednesday that the United States is not supporting an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. This was after Iran attacked Israel with missiles recently, which has raised tensions in the region and worried everyone that this could lead to a full-blown war.

Speaking to reporters, Biden said he believes Israel has the right to defend itself but that the retaliation must be proportional. “I called a meeting of the G7 today,” he said, referring to discussions with the leaders of France, Canada, Japan, Britain, Italy, and Germany. “We’re putting together a joint statement on which we all agree. There will be sanctions imposed on Iran, but any response from Israel should be proportional.” He confirmed that the statement will be finalised soon and that the global leaders collectively support Israel’s right to defend its sovereignty.

But pressured to say yes or no on whether he would back an Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, President Biden went out of his way to say he wouldn’t. “The answer is no,” he said firmly. “We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what their next steps will be, but all seven of us agree that they have a right to respond, and it should be proportional.”

It signals a larger effort by the Biden administration to rein in Israel from inflating the conflict in ways that could draw in other regional powers and further escalate the war in the Middle East. Missile attacks launched by Iran against Israel – themselves a response to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon- have already drawn international concern, and many fear further aggression will only destabilise the region further.

Biden’s remarks came as soon as the G7 nations proposed new sanctions against Iran in response to its missile attacks. Sanctions, an integral part of the West’s united stand against Iran’s aggression, paradoxically also resonate with a preference for diplomacy and economic approaches instead of military escalation.

It has reached a crossroads between Israel and Iran. The latter launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets earlier in the week, with Israel’s military, in coordination with U.S. forces, actively defending its territory. Attacks have forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare Iran’s actions as a “big mistake” and that Tehran would “pay for it.”.

But, at the same time, President Biden’s call to restraint betrays the fact that a military strike on Iran’s nuclear sites could have catastrophic results not only for Israel and Iran but for the region at large. The spate of retaliatory attacks across the Middle East ignited by Tehran and its allies, including Hezbollah and proxy groups, could deteriorate into unimaginable chaos.

Biden was once again repeating his emphasis on not losing his cool but keeping Israel safe. The minute he was unwilling to do nuclear strikes reveals how the U.S. is trying not to walk that thin line of a supporter of Israel without getting into an all-out war.

How Israel will react or what diplomatic measure is being undertaken to alleviate the escalating conflict remains to be seen as events continue to happen.