How 2 Offhand Remarks by Biden Caused Waves in the Markets and the Middle East

With the Middle East on the brink of all-out war on Thursday, people around the world were wondering when Israel might retaliate against Iran and what the targets might be.

So President Biden told them.

Well, not entirely. But with two offhand responses to questions from reporters, the American president offered an unusual glimpse into the targeting and timing of a military attack being prepared by an ally.

First, Mr. Biden said that the United States was “in discussion” about the possibility that Israel might strike Iran’s vast oil fields, a move that would dramatically escalate the conflict. He seemed to indicate some concern about that military option, saying that “I think that would be a little — ” but quickly stopped himself midsentence and said, “Anyway.”

Responding to another question about possible Israeli attacks on Iran, he said: “There’s nothing going to happen today. We’ll talk about that later.”

It was a moment that underscored the power of the presidency — or at least the power of a president’s words. It has always been the case that everything the Oval Office occupant says is transcribed and parsed as it bounces around the world. But now it does so at the speed of social media, and there is nowhere to hide.

Both of Mr. Biden’s comments on Thursday quickly became headlines in Israel because leaders there have so far remained vague about where and when they might be striking Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that “we will stand by the rule we established: Whoever attacks, we will attack them.”