After Israeli sources revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the U.S. that he would not target Iran’s nuclear facilities, Netanyahu’s office issued a response. The statement, released on Tuesday, affirmed that while Israel listens to the U.S., it will make decisions based on its own national interests.
“We will not strike oil or nuclear targets,” the statement clarified. This response followed a report by an American official and an Israeli official, stating that Netanyahu had told U.S. President Joe Biden that Israel’s response to Iran’s October 1 missile attack would focus solely on military targets, not on Iran’s nuclear or oil facilities, according to The Washington Post.
The American official highlighted that Netanyahu conveyed this decision to Biden during a phone call last Wednesday, their first conversation in over seven weeks following months of escalating tensions. Netanyahu reportedly plans to target Iran’s military infrastructure.
An Israeli official close to Netanyahu confirmed that Israel would continue consultations with U.S. officials regarding the anticipated Israeli strike but would not wait for approval from Washington.
The restrained nature of Israel’s response is aimed at avoiding significant political impacts on the U.S. presidential election. The retaliation is expected to occur before the U.S. elections on November 5. This decision led the U.S. to deploy a sophisticated missile defense system (THAAD) to Israel.
During the Wednesday call, Biden emphasized that Israel’s response should be “proportional” to prevent a wider regional war. U.S. officials believe that Israel has identified several military and energy infrastructure targets within Iran. However, Israeli officials have hinted at a powerful and unexpected response, potentially including strikes on oil and energy facilities, despite U.S. opposition.
There are also speculations, based on Israeli sources, that possible targets could include Iran’s presidential complex, the residence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the Revolutionary Guard headquarters in Tehran, according to Channel 12 Israel. In response, Iran has threatened a stronger retaliation for any Israeli attack.
