Image Credits: Image Title: Iran Warns It Could Pursue Weapons-Grade Uranium Enrichment if Attacked Again. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: May 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Israel is reportedly pushing the United States toward renewed military operations against Iran, with a strategy centered on crippling Tehran’s energy infrastructure and increasing economic pressure on the Iranian government.
According to reports from Israeli broadcasters Channel 12 and Kan, Israeli officials believe that targeting Iran’s oil and gas sector could rapidly weaken the country and force Tehran into negotiations from what they describe as a position of severe vulnerability.
The reports emerge amid continued tensions surrounding the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran and ongoing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli Officials Advocate Energy Strikes
Channel 12 reported that Israeli officials conveyed messages to Washington arguing that future military action against Iran should directly target the country’s energy infrastructure.
According to the broadcaster, Israeli officials claimed Iran’s energy sector could be severely damaged “within 24 hours.”
One unnamed Israeli official reportedly stated that even if the Iranian government survived such attacks politically, the country could become economically “paralysed.”
Israeli officials are said to believe that sustained pressure on Iran’s energy industry represents the most effective way to force concessions from Tehran, particularly as negotiations remain stalled.
Reports Suggest Trump Considered Renewed Military Action
The reports also suggested that President Donald Trump had recently leaned toward resuming military operations against Iran.
According to Kan, the United States had allegedly prepared plans for strikes targeting Iranian energy facilities before the operation was ultimately frozen.
Israeli sources cited by the broadcaster claimed Trump stepped back partly because of pressure from Gulf Arab states concerned about wider regional escalation and threats to global energy markets.
The same reports also pointed to the influence of senior US figures, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who reportedly believe negotiations with Iran could still produce concessions without triggering a broader regional war.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central Flashpoint
The strategic Strait of Hormuz continues to sit at the center of the confrontation.
The narrow waterway handles a substantial share of global oil exports and remains one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that attempts to economically strangle the country or threaten its energy sector could lead to severe consequences for shipping through the Gulf.
Regional tensions escalated sharply earlier this year after the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation against Israel and American allies in the Gulf.
Previous Strikes Raised Alarm in Washington
The latest reports also revive tensions surrounding earlier Israeli attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure during the conflict.
In March, American officials reportedly expressed concern after Israeli strikes targeted Iranian oil depots and sections of the South Pars Gas Field.
According to reports at the time, US officials feared attacks on major Iranian energy facilities could trigger uncontrollable escalation across the Middle East and destabilize global energy markets.
Trump reportedly urged Israel privately not to expand operations toward key energy targets during that phase of the conflict.
Concerns Grow Over Future Escalation
Despite continued diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran, neither side appears close to resolving core disagreements involving Iran’s nuclear activities, sanctions and regional security issues.
Israeli officials reportedly fear that any eventual agreement could fall short of Israel’s broader strategic goals concerning Iran.
Analysts say Israel increasingly appears to favor a long-term strategy focused on weakening Iran’s economic and industrial capacity rather than relying solely on diplomatic containment.
At the same time, both Washington and Tehran continue signaling reluctance to enter a full-scale regional war, even as military preparations and political tensions remain elevated.
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