Are US and Israel aligned on Iran war? Deciphering Trump’s post after gas field attacks
Are US and Israel Aligned on Iran War? Deciphering Trump’s Post After Gas Field Attacks
Following strikes on a significant gas field jointly controlled by Iran and Qatar, US President Donald Trump expressed strong disapproval on his Truth Social platform. Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars—part of the world’s largest natural gas reserve—prompted Tehran to retaliate by targeting an energy facility in Qatar. The conflict caused a surge in energy costs and intensified Trump’s frustration. His remarks suggested a lack of prior knowledge about the Israeli operation, raising questions about the extent of US-Israel coordination in the campaign against Iran.
Conflicting Accounts of Coordination
Trump’s claim that the US “knew nothing about this particular attack” contradicts Israeli media reports. The centrist newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth stated that the strike was “co-ordinated in advance with the United States and… agreed upon between Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and US President Trump.” A right-wing outlet, Israel Hayom, added that “President Trump discussed the upcoming Israeli strike in [Iran’s coastal city of] Asaluyeh with leaders of three Persian Gulf states over the weekend.”
“The gas supply to citizens is being shut off, and that will bring the uprising closer,” one official told Yedioth Ahronoth’s Yossi Yehoshua.
While Trump’s assertions often lack clarity, his use of all caps in this post was notable. He wrote: “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field, unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case Qatar.” This phrasing hints at a potential shift in strategy, but it’s unclear whether it reflects a prior agreement or a message to Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s Reassurance of Unity
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced Trump’s stance during a press conference on Thursday. He emphasized that Israel had “acted alone” in the attack and stated that Trump had requested “hold off” from further strikes of similar nature. Netanyahu portrayed himself and Trump as tightly aligned, asserting, “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?” and “I don’t think any two leaders have been as coordinated as President Trump and I. He’s the leader. I’m, you know, his ally.”
Alex Gandler, the Israeli embassy in London’s spokesperson, confirmed the shared objectives: “We are very much aligned on most or all of our goals regarding the Islamic regime in Iran, the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], their ballistic and nuclear programmes,” and “We want the same thing.”
Strategic Divergence Beneath the Surface
Though the two nations appear in sync, subtle differences in their approaches emerge. Israel has consistently prioritized regime change, with officials framing the South Pars strike as part of a broader strategy to weaken Iran’s authority. In contrast, the US has focused on eroding Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, targeting its naval assets and infrastructure along the Gulf coast. Netanyahu’s long-term vision for toppling the Islamic regime aligns with Israel’s goals, while the US emphasizes containment and deterrence.