Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has asserted that while his government values the perspectives of the United States, it will primarily focus on its own national interests when determining its next steps regarding Iran.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Netanyahu’s office indicated that he informed President Joe Biden’s administration that Israel intends to target Iranian military installations in response to the missile attack carried out by Iran on October 1. This decision marks a shift away from targeting Iranian nuclear or oil facilities.
The tensions between Israel and Iran have been intensifying, particularly due to assaults from the Iran-backed Hezbollah group against northern Israel, raising expectations of a possible Israeli strike on Iranian territory. Despite these pressures, Netanyahu appears to be leaning toward a strategy aimed at preventing a larger war by opting for a more measured counteraction.
This approach aligns with Israel’s past tactics. For example, in April 2024, Israel conducted airstrikes on an air defense radar site near Isfahan, Iran, as a response to drone and missile attacks originating from Iran. This demonstrated Israel’s ability to protect itself while refraining from directly targeting nuclear facilities.
Furthermore, any retaliatory measures will be carefully considered to avoid being perceived as “political interference in the U.S. elections,” according to a source cited by the Washington Post. President Biden has previously stated he would oppose attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, a position that has kept oil markets on edge regarding potential Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities.
In light of these developments, Gulf states have urged Washington to dissuade Israel from targeting Iran’s oil sites, fearing that their own oil infrastructures could be threatened by retaliatory actions from Tehran’s proxies if tensions escalate, as reported by Reuters.
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