Israel has completed preparations for strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure but is awaiting American approval before proceeding, according to an Israeli official familiar with the planning—a revelation that exposes the delicate balance of the US-Israel strategic relationship amid the escalating Iran crisis.
The strikes would target oil refineries, petrochemical facilities, and potentially key nodes in Iran's energy export network, according to Reuters reporting citing the Israeli official. Such attacks would represent a significant escalation beyond the military and nuclear facilities that have been the primary focus of recent operations, directly threatening Iran's economic lifeline.
The detail that Israel is waiting for Washington's green light is itself revealing. It suggests a level of American oversight over Israeli military operations that is rarely acknowledged publicly and raises fundamental questions about sovereignty, alliance management, and the distribution of decision-making authority when partners' interests do not perfectly align.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. The US-Israel security relationship has long been characterized by American military aid coupled with occasional restraint on Israeli actions. Washington provides Israel with approximately $3.8 billion annually in security assistance, advanced weapons systems, and intelligence sharing. In exchange, American administrations have periodically sought to constrain Israeli military action when it conflicts with broader US strategic interests.
This dynamic was visible in 2012, when the Obama administration reportedly convinced Israel not to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, arguing that diplomacy could achieve the same objective—a calculation that led to the 2015 nuclear deal. It was evident again in 2021, when the Biden administration urged restraint during Israeli-Hamas hostilities. Now, with President Trump having issued his own 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, the question becomes whether Israel is coordinating with American strategy or subordinating its actions to it.


