"WTF" -- The White House reacted surprisingly after Israel, one of the United States’ closest allies in the Middle East, struck Iranian oil facilities on Saturday. The attack by the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government was not anticipated by the Donald Trump administration, marking the first major disagreement between the two partners who carried out a joint military mission against the Khamenei-led regime in Tehran last week, according to a scoop by Axios.
Washington’s concern was that Israeli strikes on Iranian oil depots, which serve ordinary people and not just the power centres, could eventually backfire strategically by rallying Iranians and strengthening public support for the current regime.
Officials also feared that attacks on fuel depots could push oil prices higher, placing a heavier burden on ordinary people in the Islamic Republic, which could run counter to the interests of the
Donald Trump administration in the United States.
Israeli air force strikes on Saturday triggered large fires in Tehran, with flames visible from miles away and thick smoke covering parts of the capital.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that the targeted fuel depots “are used by the Iranian regime to supply fuel to different consumers including its military organs.” An Israeli military official added that the strikes were also meant to send a message to Iran to stop targeting Israeli civilian infrastructure.
Israeli and US officials said the IDF informed the US military before carrying out the strikes. However, a US official said the American side was surprised by how extensive the attacks were.
“We don't think it was a good idea,” a senior US official said. Another Israeli official said the message from Washington to Israel was “WTF”. The White House and the IDF did not comment on the matter.
While the facilities targeted were not oil production sites, US officials are concerned that images of burning fuel depots could alarm global oil markets and push energy prices even higher.
“The president doesn't like the attack. He wants to save the oil. He doesn't want to burn it. And it reminds people of higher gas prices,” a Trump adviser told Axios.
Meanwhile, Iran warned it could respond if attacks on its oil infrastructure continue. The spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, which oversees military operations, said Tehran has so far avoided targeting fuel and energy infrastructure in the region but may reconsider.
He warned that if such strikes continue, Iran could launch similar attacks across the region and oil prices might reach $200 per barrel.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also warned that if the attacks on infrastructure continue, Iran will retaliate “without delay.”
A US official said the disagreement between Washington and Israel over the strikes is likely to be discussed at senior political levels between the two allies as the conflict continues.
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