US, Israel Plan Iran Energy Strikes, Awaiting Trump Order
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- US officials told CBS News that Washington and Israel are preparing strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure—including power plants and oil refineries—but Trump has not yet issued final authorization.
- Pentagon planners discussed completing the operation before global financial markets reopen Monday to limit fallout on energy supplies and the wider economy, though no final timeline has been agreed.
- An Israeli official told CBS News that no decision has been made to resume full-scale operations and Israel has not been asked to participate, creating a gap with US reports of close coordination with Washington.
- The plans were debated at Trump's Camp David cabinet meeting Friday, where some White House officials opposed the move while Trump said the US would hit Iran "very hard" and that Tehran would eventually be forced to relent.
- Iran warned via Tasnim News Agency that it has prepared a "comprehensive response" targeting critical infrastructure inside Israel and US energy infrastructure across the region if attacked.
- A joint operation would mark Israel's return to military action after suspending combat operations during the US-brokered truce, with the White House reiterating that preventing a nuclear weapon remains the objective.
Why it matters: The pre-market-open timing shows the administration is acutely aware of oil-price and economic fallout risk, while Iran's explicit threat to strike US energy assets across the region—not just Israel—raises the prospect of a broader escalation that could pull additional US partners into the conflict.
