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 the strikes on a joint Iranian-Qatari gas field, US President Donald Trump expressed sharp criticism on his Truth Social platform. Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars field, part of the globe’s most significant natural gas reserve, prompted Tehran to retaliate by targeting an energy facility in Qatar. The escalation resulted in a surge in energy costs, intensifying Trump’s frustration. In his post, he claimed the US had no prior knowledge of the strike, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
“We knew nothing about this particular attack,” Trump stated, implying a disconnect from Israel’s actions.
Contradicting Trump’s assertion, Israeli media outlets reported that the strike was planned in coordination with the US. The centrist Yedioth Ahronoth noted that “the attack was co-ordinated in advance with the United States and… agreed upon between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Trump.” The right-leaning Israel Hayom added that “President Trump discussed the upcoming Israeli strike in Asaluyeh with leaders of three Persian Gulf states over the weekend.”
Trump’s choice of words also highlights a potential rift in strategic intent. He described the strike as a “violent lashing out” driven by “anger,” a characterization more commonly applied to Iran’s erratic responses than to a calculated operation by a close ally. This framing raises questions about whether the president views Israel’s actions as prudent or impulsive.
“NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field,” Trump wrote, “unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case Qatar.”
For a leader who prides himself on control, the statement could signal either a prearranged pause or a subtle rebuke of Netanyahu’s approach. The post echoes earlier reports of Trump’s irritation over Israel’s earlier strikes on Iranian oil installations, suggesting a possible divergence in timing and tactics.
Israeli officials, however, emphasize that their goals with Iran remain consistent. “We are very much aligned on most or all of our goals regarding the Islamic regime in Iran, the IRGC, their ballistic and nuclear programmes,” said Alex Gandler, the Israeli embassy’s spokesperson, speaking to the BBC on Thursday.
Despite shared aims, Israel’s strategy has focused more intensely on regime change. Officials cited in Israeli media argued that the South Pars strike was part of a broader campaign to weaken Iran’s authority. “The gas supply to citizens is being shut off, and that will bring the uprising closer,” one official told Yedioth Ahronoth’s Yossi Yehoshua.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has long advocated for toppling Iran’s government, viewing it as a threat to Israel’s survival. Meanwhile, the US has prioritized degrading Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, targeting its military assets along the Gulf coast. This contrast in focus underscores differences in how each nation assesses the conflict’s trajectory.
“I strongly believe he wishes to find a means to credibly declare a victory that does not ring empty,” said David Satterfield, a former US special envoy for the Middle East. “He is not… looking for a quixotic regime change goal that was never on the cards realistically.”
For Netanyahu, Satterfield noted, Iran’s instability is “a desirable goal.” Yet Trump’s post hints at a preference for controlled outcomes, leaving room for interpretation about the depth of US-Israeli unity in the war’s objectives. Whether the single statement reflects a shift or a strategic pause remains unclear, but it underscores the complexities in their alliance.
