Are US and Israel aligned on Iran war? Deciphering Trump’s post after gas field attacks
Are US and Israel aligned on Iran war? Deciphering Trump’s post after gas field attacks
Donald Trump, the current US president, responded with a sharp public declaration following assaults on a shared Iranian-Qatari gas field. Israel targeted Iran’s South Pars, a crucial component of the world’s largest natural gas reserve, while Tehran retaliated by striking an energy complex in Qatar. The strikes triggered a temporary rise in global energy prices and intensified Trump’s frustration. On his Truth Social platform, the president criticized Iran, claiming ignorance of the Israeli operation. This raises questions about the relationship between the US and Israel in their approach to the conflict.
The Attacks and Their Aftermath
Reports from Israeli media suggest the US was involved in planning the strike, with Yedioth Ahronoth stating that the attack “was co-ordinated in advance with the United States and… agreed upon between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Trump.” Right-wing outlet Israel Hayom added that Trump had conversed with leaders from three Gulf states about the strike in Asaluyeh, a coastal Iranian city. However, Trump’s insistence that the US “knew nothing about this particular attack” contradicts these accounts, leaving ambiguity about the true extent of collaboration.
Trump’s Public Remarks
“NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field,” he wrote, “unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case Qatar.”
The president’s choice of words implies a sense of oversight, describing the Israeli strike as a spontaneous act of anger rather than a calculated operation. This framing contrasts with the deliberate nature of Iran’s retaliatory actions, potentially signaling Trump’s disapproval of Israel’s tactics. Yet, his use of all caps here is rare, hinting at a nuanced stance rather than outright condemnation.
Aligning Goals Amid Strategic Differences
Israeli officials stress their alignment with US objectives, though some hints at divergence have emerged. Netanyahu, during a Thursday press conference, affirmed that Israel acted independently and that Trump had requested a pause in similar strikes. “I don’t think any two leaders have been as coordinated as President Trump and I,” he claimed, emphasizing his role as a loyal ally. However, the US has focused on degrading Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, while Israel has prioritized targeting Iran’s leadership and destabilizing its internal governance structures.
Despite shared goals, the two nations differ in their approach. The US aims to weaken Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, whereas Israel has consistently pursued regime change, as highlighted by officials who framed the South Pars attack as part of a broader strategy to erode Iranian authority. This divergence underscores the complexity of their partnership, even as both nations remain unified in their opposition to Iran’s policies.
