The Trump administration has reportedly asked Israel to stop bombing Iran’s energy infrastructure, highlighting growing differences between the two allies as their joint war against Iran moves into its second week.
According to a report citing sources familiar with the discussions, U.S. officials conveyed the request to their Israeli counterparts after Israeli strikes targeted Iranian oil facilities, sending thick clouds of black smoke rising above Tehran.
The war, launched roughly 10 days ago by the United States and Israel, has largely focused on Iranian military targets. But Israel’s attacks on the country’s energy sector appear to have raised concerns inside the White House about both humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.
Officials reportedly gave three main reasons for urging Israel to avoid further strikes on Iran’s oil industry.
First, the administration warned that damaging the country’s energy infrastructure could harm ordinary Iranian citizens more than the ruling regime. U.S. officials believe many Iranians already oppose their government, and worsening the country’s economic hardship could primarily affect civilians rather than political leaders.
Second, the administration is said to be considering the possibility of future cooperation with Iran’s oil sector once the war ends. The approach would mirror the strategy President Donald Trump has taken with Venezuela, where the administration has sought engagement with the country’s energy industry despite broader tensions.
Third, U.S. officials cautioned that continued attacks on Iranian oil facilities could provoke large-scale retaliation against energy infrastructure across Gulf states, potentially threatening regional stability and global energy markets.
The disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem appears to reflect different priorities in how the conflict should unfold.
“There is some concern among White House officials that Israel wants the war to last after the U.S. expresses its desire to end the bombing campaign,” The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. “U.S. and Israeli officials say the Israeli message is it will stop its campaign in Iran whenever U.S. involvement stops.”
According to the Journal, American and Israeli forces have focused on different types of targets throughout the campaign. U.S. strikes have primarily aimed at Iranian military installations, while Israeli bombings have targeted Iranian leaders and key energy facilities.
For years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly called on the United States to take direct action against Iran, arguing that Tehran poses a significant threat to regional security.
The conflict has already exacted a heavy toll.
More than 1,000 Iranians have reportedly been killed in the bombings, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials. In one of the most controversial incidents of the war, an elementary school in southern Iran was struck, killing at least 175 people, most of them children.
Trump administration officials reportedly believe the United States was responsible for that strike, though President Trump has denied the claim.
The violence has not been limited to Iran. Iranian retaliatory strikes have killed seven Americans since the conflict began.
As the war continues, the differing strategies between Washington and Jerusalem illustrate the complicated realities of modern conflict. Military campaigns often begin with shared objectives, but as operations unfold, allies can find themselves weighing different risks — from humanitarian consequences to the potential for broader regional escalation.
For now, the White House appears eager to avoid deeper economic disruption and prevent the conflict from spiraling further, even as Israel continues pressing its campaign against Iran’s leadership and strategic infrastructure.
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