The United States has privately urged Israel to refrain from additional attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure, particularly oil facilities, according to a report by Axios citing senior officials. This marks the first time Washington has sought to restrain Israeli military targeting since their joint campaign against Tehran began on February 28.
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir reportedly received the request amid growing US concerns over March 7 strikes on Iranian energy sites, which surprised officials with their scale despite prior notification. US officials cited three key issues: potential harm to Iranian civilians, complications for post-war engagement plans with Iran's oil sector, and risks of provoking retaliatory strikes on Gulf energy facilities.
Gulf states, already facing depleted missile interceptor stocks, are increasingly forced to prioritize which incoming threats to counter, CBS News reported. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Washington would prioritize resupplying allies' defenses after securing US bases.
The White House now views oil infrastructure strikes as a last-resort measure, Axios noted, reserving such actions only if Iran directly targets regional energy supplies first. This shift underscores heightened caution as regional stability hangs in balance.
