Report: Trump administration has asked Israel not to strike more Iranian oil facilities

US President Donald Trump’s administration asked Israel yesterday not to strike additional oil or energy facilities in Iran, according to a report by Channel 12 news, following earlier reports that the White House is unhappy with Israel’s recent strike on oil facilities in Tehran.

Washington’s message was conveyed to Israel’s senior political leadership as well as to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, according to the network, which cites three sources familiar with the details.

According to the sources, the administration outlined three main reasons for the request.

First, officials reportedly argued that attacks on energy infrastructure ultimately harm the Iranian public, a large portion of whom oppose the Iranian regime and support the campaign against it — potentially pushing Iranians to rally behind their leadership.

Iran’s environmental authorities urged the population to remain indoors to avoid respiratory problems and other health consequences following the Israeli strike.

Second, the administration was said to explain that Trump hopes to cooperate with a potential future Iranian government in the oil sector after the war. Following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last month, Trump’s administration took steps to secure and tap Venezuela’s oil reserves.

The third reason is said to be that the American officials fear that an Iranian response to strikes on oil facilities could include large-scale strikes on oil and energy infrastructure across the Gulf, potentially triggering an economic crisis.

A source tells Channel 12 that Trump views strikes on Iran’s energy and oil facilities as a “doomsday option” only to be used if Iran first attacks Gulf oil facilities.