Trump administration asks Israel NOT to strike more Iranian oil facilities — 'doomsday option' framing

The Trump administration asked Israel yesterday not to strike additional oil or energy facilities in Iran, according to Channel 12 news citing three sources familiar with the details. The message was conveyed to Israel's senior political leadership and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The administration outlined three main reasons for the request. First, officials 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 — and could push Iranians to rally behind their leadership. Iran's environmental authorities have already urged the population to remain indoors following the Israeli strike on Tehran's oil depot. Second, the administration explained that Trump hopes to cooperate with a 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 — a similar 'resource dividend' model appears to be envisaged for Iran. Third, 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 a broader economic crisis. A source tells Channel 12 that Trump views strikes on Iran's energy and oil facilities as a 'doomsday option' to be used only if Iran first attacks Gulf oil facilities.