Are US and Israel aligned on Iran war? Deciphering Trump’s post after gas field attacks
Trump’s Response to Iran Conflict: A Clash of Narratives
Following recent strikes on a critical gas field shared by Iran and Qatar, Donald Trump, the US president, delivered a pointed declaration. The attacks, which targeted Iran’s South Pars—part of the globe’s largest natural gas reserve—were met with retaliation by Tehran, which hit an energy complex in Qatar. This escalation sparked a surge in energy costs and fueled Trump’s frustration. On his Truth Social platform, he criticized Iran and claimed ignorance of Israel’s prior plans for the assault.
Contradictions in the Narrative
Trump’s assertion that the US “knew nothing about this particular attack” contrasts with reports from Israeli media. According to the centrist Yedioth Ahronoth, the strike was “co-ordinated in advance with the United States and… agreed upon between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Trump.” A more assertive tone comes from the right-leaning Israel Hayom, which states that “President Trump discussed the upcoming Israeli strike in Asaluyeh with leaders of three Persian Gulf states over the weekend.” Such conflicting accounts complicate the search for truth in Trump’s statements.
His choice of words further reveals a nuanced perspective. Referring to the attack as an act of “violent lashing out,” Trump frames it as impulsive rather than strategic. This language, reminiscent of descriptions used for Iran’s more aggressive retaliations, implies a critique of Israel’s approach. Yet, it also hints at a potential rift in their shared objectives, raising questions about the depth of their alignment.
Netanyahu’s Alignment with Trump
On Thursday evening, Netanyahu held a press conference, echoing Trump’s remarks. He stated that Israel had “acted alone” in the strike and that Trump had requested Israeli forces to “hold off” from similar actions. The Israeli leader emphasized unity with the US, declaring, “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.” This reinforces the narrative of close collaboration, despite earlier hints of differing priorities.
“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 London spokesman, on Thursday morning. “We want the same thing.”
However, the two allies’ strategies reveal subtle divergences. While the US focuses on degrading Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, Israel has pursued a more direct approach, targeting key figures and dismantling state structures like the Basij units responsible for quelling protests. Netanyahu’s long-term vision for regime change in Iran underscores this difference, a goal that aligns with his decades-long stance against the Islamic state.
Though Trump’s single late-night post may not fully capture the complexity of the relationship, it highlights the evolving dynamics between the US and Israel. For a leader who prides himself on control, the use of all caps in “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL” suggests both a directive and a challenge to Netanyahu’s autonomy. The question remains: is this a sign of shifting priorities, or simply a rhetorical flourish?
