Washington, DC – Sources familiar with the matter told Axios on Tuesday that the Trump administration has asked Israel not to carry out further strikes on Iranian energy facilities, particularly oil infrastructure. This marks the first direct intervention from Washington since the start of the joint military operation against Iran ten days ago.
Reasons for the American demand
According to sources, the request was made at a high political level and conveyed to Eyal Zamir, the Israeli army chief of staff. The request was based on several considerations, most notably:
Protecting Iranian civilians and preventing widespread casualties.
Washington’s desire to maintain opportunities for cooperation with the Iranian oil sector after the conflict ends, similar to its approach with Venezuela.
There are concerns about retaliatory attacks from Tehran that could target energy facilities in the Gulf states, threatening global oil markets.
Warnings and positions
A US official indicated that Trump considers striking Iranian oil facilities a “doomsday option.” This is a last resort, reserved only if Iran first targets oil sources in the Gulf.
Similarly, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham cautioned against targeting Iranian fuel depots. He also urged caution to ensure that the Iranian people’s chances for a stable life after the regime’s collapse are not undermined.
For his part, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the United States has not targeted any such facilities. This was in reference to the recent strikes on fuel depots in Iran. He also stressed the importance of avoiding an escalation that could harm civilians and threaten the stability of energy markets.
