Israel is pushing the US towards a renewed war with Iran focused on destroying the country’s energy infrastructure, amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and fears of a broader regional confrontation.
Israeli officials have conveyed a message to Washington that any future military campaign against Iran should include strikes on the country’s energy sector, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing what it described as an "informed" Israeli source.
According to the report, Israeli officials believe Iran’s energy infrastructure could be destroyed "within 24 hours", forcing Tehran into negotiations "from a position of severe weakness".
One Israeli official cited by the broadcaster said: "If the regime does not fall, then at the very least it will become paralysed."
The report said Israel is attempting to convince the US that targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure is the only practical way to pressure Tehran, particularly as disputes remain unresolved over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.
The warnings come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following recent military escalation in the Gulf region, although both sides are also reportedly seeking to avoid a slide into full-scale war.
Israeli officials also received assessments last week suggesting US President Donald Trump was leaning towards resuming military operations against Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported.
The US had allegedly made concrete preparations for strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure before the plan was ultimately frozen.
An Israeli source told Kan that Trump backed away from attacking Iran’s energy facilities not only because of pressure from Gulf states, but from US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who reportedly believe Iranian concessions can still be extracted through negotiations.
Both Washington and Tehran are reluctant to engage in a comprehensive regional war, even though fundamental disagreements remain over Iran's nuclear programme, the source added. Despite ongoing contacts between Washington and Tehran, the Channel 12 report said Israeli officials fear an agreement that does not align with Israel’s strategic vision regarding Iran.
The report noted that while neither the US nor Iran currently appears interested in returning to a full-scale conflict, neither side is moving closer to resolving core disputes, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s civil nuclear programme.
Israeli officials reportedly hope the continuing deadlock increases the likelihood of renewed military escalation in the coming months, especially if negotiations fail to produce significant Iranian concessions.
The latest developments come amid continuing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes, through which a significant proportion of global oil exports pass.
Israeli officials increasingly appear to be advocating for a strategy aimed at crippling Iran’s economy and energy capacity rather than containing the conflict diplomatically.
The reports echo tensions earlier in the conflict over Israeli attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure.
In March, US officials reportedly rebuked Israel after strikes on Iranian oil depots and the South Pars gas field, with American officials fearing the attacks could trigger wider regional escalation and destabilise global energy markets.
According to reports, Trump privately urged Israel not to target key Iranian energy facilities
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any attempts to threaten Tehran economically or militarily could have even more consequences for shipping through the vital waterway.