Report: Witkoff, Kushner coming to Israel as US irked over scope of strikes on Iran’s oil depots

Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a speech as Jared Kushner looks on upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, January 6, 2026. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a speech as Jared Kushner looks on upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, January 6, 2026. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP)

US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are planning to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for talks as the US-Israeli war with Iran continues, a senior American official tells Channel 12.

The planned visit comes as disagreements have emerged between Israel and the US over Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities yesterday, according to the news outlet.

A senior American security official tells Channel 12 that Israel had informed Washington in advance about plans to target oil infrastructure, but did not indicate that the strikes would be as extensive as they were.

“We don’t think it was a good idea,” the official says, adding that the US military had expected a largely symbolic strike and was surprised by the scope of the operation.

According to the official, US officials are concerned that targeting infrastructure that also supplies fuel to Tehran’s civilian population could backfire by strengthening the Iranian regime and turning public opinion against Israel and the US.

An Israeli security official cited by Channel 12 says the strikes on the fuel depots were intended in part to send a message to Tehran to stop targeting civilian sites in Israel.

The report also says the discussion over the strikes has so far taken place mainly at the military level, without a clear political message being conveyed between the governments.

Earlier on Sunday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the US would not target Iranian energy infrastructure.

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