Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly issued a memo warning U.S. government officials not to make any statements that could exacerbate tensions in the Middle East.
“Giving rising tensions in the region, Chiefs of Mission and embassies at addressee posts must refrain from public statements, interviews, or social media activity that could in any way inflame regional audiences, prejudice sensitive political issues, or complicate U.S. relationships,” Rubio said in the memo, reported by The Guardian.
News of the memo comes as the United States simultaneously seeks to strike a nuclear deal with Iran, while amassing enormous military force in the region that has been widely interpreted as a sign the Islamic Republic will be hit with strikes should the talks go nowhere. On Friday, the U.S. government issued warnings to the Israeli embassy staff to leave “today.”
Politicos have interpreted the State Department memo as a veiled swipe against U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee‘s recent comments on Israel’s possible territorial claims in the Middle East.
In an interview released last Friday, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked Huckabee whether or not Israel has the right to land from the Nile to the Euphrates River, referencing a Bible verse from Genesis. Huckabee responded with, “It would be fine if they took it all.”
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“Chiefs of Mission are expected to avoid all commentary on issues that could heighten tensions or create confusion about US policy,” the Rubio memo said, according to the outlet. “Discipline in public messaging is essential, especially at this time.”
The outlet noted the memo did not single out Huckabee.
A State Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner they had “no comment on purportedly leaked internal memos.”
The White House referred the Washington Examiner to the State Department.
The Trump administration is weighing possible strikes on Iran amid months of heightened tensions over the Islamic regime’s deadly crackdown on protesters and speculations over its nuclear programs, seven months after Operation Midnight Hammer. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is “not happy” with Iran and still hopes they make a deal.
“Well, we’re not happy with what’s going on,” Trump said. “They should make a deal, they’d be smart if they made a deal. No nuclear weapons — we want no nuclear weapons by Iran and they’re not saying those golden words.”
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He continued, saying he would “love not to use” military force, but “sometimes you have to.”
“We have the greatest military anywhere in the world, there’s nothing close, I’d love not to use it, but sometimes you have to,” Trump said.