The Trump administration has urged Israel to discontinue attacks on Iranian oil facilities, marking the first request for restraint since the outbreak of war on September 28.
The Trump administration has made a significant request to Israel, urging the cessation of attacks on Iranian energy facilities, including oil installations. This request marks the first instance of the Trump administration seeking to intervene in Israel's military actions against Iran since the war began on September 28. U.S. media outlet Axios reported that senior officials from the Trump administration communicated this request to high-ranking members of the Israeli government and Israel Defense Forces Chief Eyal Zamir. U.S. officials have reportedly indicated that further attacks on Iranian oil facilities could harm Iranian citizens who oppose their regime, raising humanitarian concerns.
On October 7, Israeli forces launched strikes on approximately 30 Iranian fuel storage sites, leading to considerable environmental consequences, including toxic smoke and acid rain affecting Tehran, which houses around 10 million residents. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concerns over potential contamination of food, water, and air, highlighting the health risks posed to civilians. The Iranian Red Crescent has warned that the emitted smoke contains high levels of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides, which could result in skin burns or lung damage upon contact or inhalation.
Experts have weighed in on the implications of such Israeli attacks, with Adel Shadid suggesting that targeting Iranian oil facilities seems to be a strategy aimed at inciting unrest by making ordinary citizens' lives unbearable. Raphael Cohen from the RAND Corporation noted that rather than compelling surrender, such bombing campaigns tend to consolidate national unity against a common threat. Notably, the Trump administration's long-term strategy appears to involve post-war cooperation with Iran's oil sector, possibly mirroring their approach in Venezuela, where relations have been established following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro's allies, facilitating the importation of Venezuelan oil into the U.S.
