WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is reportedly opposing further military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, signaling a desire to de-escalate after a major Israeli attack on the South Pars gas field.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, the President believes that Tehran has “received the message” intended by the recent operation. While Trump had prior knowledge of the Israeli strike and supported it as a necessary deterrent against Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, he is now signaling a pivot toward restraint to avoid a broader regional conflagration.
The administration’s current stance reflects a delicate balancing act between maintaining a credible threat and preventing a global energy crisis.
Trump initially backed the targeting of the South Pars gas field—a cornerstone of Iran’s energy sector—to pressure Tehran into reopening the strategic waterway. However, officials told the Wall Street Journal that the President now views additional strikes on energy sites as counterproductive, provided Iran ceases its interference with maritime traffic. This “red line” remains fluid. The report clarifies that the U.S. could reopen the door to targeting energy assets if Iran resumes aggressive actions in the Strait.
The shift in rhetoric comes as Washington attempts to navigate the fallout of “Operation Epic Fury.” By publicly cooling the appetite for further infrastructure strikes, the administration aims to stabilize fluctuating global energy prices while keeping Tehran on notice.
The Wall Street Journal noted that the current position is designed to “balance between signaling deterrence and avoiding further escalation targeting critical energy assets,” which could have sweeping implications for the global economy.
