March 21, 2026 | 07:07 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that he explicitly requested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from targeting Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure. Trump made the disclosure on Thursday, March 19, amid a period of intensifying regional conflict.
As reported by Anadolu, Trump confirmed he had spoken directly with Netanyahu regarding the strategic restraint. "Yeah, I did, I did. I told him, don’t do that, and he won’t do that," Trump told reporters.
He noted that while both nations often act independently, they maintain a rhythm of close coordination.
"We didn’t discuss, we do independent, but get along great. It’s coordinated. But on occasion, he’ll do something. And if I don’t like it … we’re not doing that anymore," he added.
These remarks follow an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field, Iran’s most vital gas reserve and the primary engine of its economy. The assault represented a massive escalation in a conflict that has now raged for nearly three weeks.
According to The New Arab, the strike provoked a fierce reaction from Tehran. Iran warned of severe consequences should its infrastructure be targeted again and subsequently launched retaliatory strikes on regional energy facilities, including those in Qatar and Kuwait. The volatility has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, with oil and gas prices spiking over fears of a systemic supply collapse.
During a press conference, Netanyahu clarified that the operation against South Pars was executed without direct American involvement. However, he confirmed that Trump had urged Israel to avoid similar strikes on energy assets moving forward.
"Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? He didn't need any convincing. 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," Netanyahu remarked.
Netanyahu maintained that Israel currently holds a definitive upper hand in the ongoing hostilities. "We are winning and Iran is being decimated," he asserted.
He further claimed that Iran’s ability to enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles has been effectively neutralized.
Additionally, Netanyahu dismissed Iran’s recent move to block the Strait of Hormuz as a "blackmail" that "won't work". Despite the request to halt strikes on energy infrastructure, he made it clear that Israel’s broader military objectives remain unchanged. "There's still more work to do, and we're gonna do it," he said.
Read: Trump Compares Iran Strike to Pearl Harbor in Meeting with Takaichi
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