US holding back Israel from carrying out attacks on Iran for first time - Axios
Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The United States has asked Israel to stop attacks on Iran’s energy and oil infrastructure. This marks the first time Washington has restricted the actions of its ally since the start of the joint operation, Axios informs.
US position
According to three sources cited by the outlet, the White House conveyed the message to the Israeli leadership and the IDF General Staff. The Trump administration highlights three key reasons for restraint:
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Strikes on energy facilities harm the population, which largely does not support the current regime;
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Trump views Iran’s oil sector as an asset the United States could work with after the war (similar to Venezuela);
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Further escalation could push Iran to attack the oil facilities of its neighbors.
'Doomsday option'
According to an Axios source, Trump sees the total destruction of Iran’s oil infrastructure as an extreme measure that should be used only in response to a deliberate attack by Tehran on fuel facilities in the Persian Gulf.
On Truth Social, the US president directly hinted that if Iran takes such a step, the response will be "20 times stronger," which would make Iran’s recovery as a state virtually impossible.
Reaction from politicians and the Pentagon
Even supporters of a hardline approach in the United States are urging caution. Senator Lindsey Graham said that the oil economy could help the Iranian people build a "new life after the collapse of the regime."
For his part, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth distanced Washington from the recent attacks on fuel depots, stressing that American forces were not involved in strikes on such targets.
Strikes on Iran’s oil facilities
On March 8, Israel carried out massive strikes on Iran’s oil facilities. In particular, a fire broke out at the Shahran oil refinery in Tehran following the attack.
Afterward, Israeli media reported that Trump’s envoys would urgently arrive in Israel, as Washington believes that attacks on oil facilities are not the best idea.
