Former senior officials in the Biden administration believe the direct conflict with Iran was, in several respects, an extension of the Gaza war, according to a detailed investigation examining Washington’s support for Israel.

The report says President Joe Biden feared that publicly pressuring Israel could encourage attacks by Iran or its regional allies, eventually forcing Washington to intervene in Israel’s defense and potentially triggering a wider regional war.

Brett McGurk, Biden’s former White House coordinator for the Middle East, was among the strongest supporters of this approach, arguing that unwavering American support for Israel would help contain Iran.

A “Moral Hazard”

Philip Gordon, former national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, offered a different assessment, describing the policy as a “moral hazard” that encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expand the confrontation while assuming that Washington would ultimately defend Israel.

Former officials said Biden repeatedly urged Netanyahu not to provoke Iran or its allies. Israel nevertheless carried out several major operations without providing Washington with meaningful advance notice.

These included strikes targeting Iranian officials in Damascus, an attack on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Syria, the assassination of a senior Hamas political figure in Tehran, the detonation of communication devices used by Hezbollah members and the killing of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

One former White House official described Nasrallah’s assassination as a “humiliation” for Biden because it occurred two days after the United States, France and other allies called for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Washington Defends Israel

Despite its private objections, the Biden administration did not publicly condemn Israel for acting unilaterally.

When Iran launched direct attacks against Israel in April and October 2024, U.S. forces helped intercept Iranian missiles and drones. Washington later deployed additional personnel and a missile-defense system to Israel.

Former officials acknowledged that this protection unintentionally encouraged Netanyahu to test the limits of American support. Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reportedly compared Netanyahu to a gambler “playing with house money.”

Netanyahu also sought U.S. support for broader attacks against Iranian infrastructure but reluctantly backed down after the Biden administration refused.

Warning to the Trump Team

Following Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, Biden officials warned the incoming administration that Israel would be unlikely to miss an opportunity to strike Iran while the country’s defenses were weakened.

Under Trump, U.S. forces joined Israel in attacking Iran. During the latest confrontation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington acted preemptively because intelligence indicated that an imminent Israeli attack would trigger Iranian strikes against American forces in the region.

Although Trump later suggested that he may have pushed Israel to act, the report argues that his administration faced a pattern familiar to Biden officials: Washington believed it could not prevent an Israeli attack but remained prepared to absorb the consequences and defend Israel.

The investigation concludes that Biden’s support helped create the conditions for the war to expand. Former administration officials also blame Trump for allowing the Gaza conflict to continue and develop into a direct confrontation with Iran, further destabilizing the region.