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The United States is preparing a massive attack on energy infrastructure in Iran, and Israel could take part, according to several American media reports from July 31.
CBS News, citing multiple sources, described the attack being planned by the U.S. and Israel as “the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure targets in Iran.”
According to the report, there was some discussion about trying to conclude by the time financial markets open on August 2 because of concern about how the bombings will affect the U.S. and global economy, but an end point wasn’t locked in.
The Israelis have been notified and are coordinating with the U.S., American sources told the news channel, noting that President Donald Trump has yet to give the final “go” orders for the strikes.
An Israeli official told CBS News: “Israel is unaware of a decision to restart full military operations, nor has been requested of Israel to join any military actions against Iran.”
Energy infrastructure, including power plants and refineries, would likely be targeted, two of the sources told the channel.
A separate report from Axios citing an American confirmed the plan to attack Iranian energy infrastructure, and that Israel will take part. The news website also said that Trump has not made a decision yet. It said that the attack is meant “to get the Iranians to agree to the United States’ terms in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.”
Later, however, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had actually ordered the attack on Iran. Citing U.S. officials, the report said the bombing is expected to last several days and could start as soon as this weekend. The report didn’t clarify, however, whether the attack ordered by the U.S. president will include strikes on energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that there is no indication that Israel will participate in intense strikes that the U.S. is planning to launch on the Islamic Republic. The news channel, however, confirmed that the attack could begin this weekend.
Responding to these reports, an Iranian senior security official told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure targets would be “an act of madness.”
“We have prepared a broad response plan that includes strikes against the Zionist regime’s critical infrastructure and U.S. energy infrastructure in the region, and we are fully prepared to carry it out,” the Iranian security official said.
Iran and its allies have already demonstrated their capability to target energy infrastructure across the region. This was reinforced by recent attacks on several key oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, which were attributed to Yemen’s Houthis and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
It is very possible that the wave of reports coming out from American media is a part of a calculated pressure campaign orchestrated by the Trump administration. Nearly all the outlets reporting on the upcoming attack against Iranian energy infrastructure cited U.S. officials.
Iran seems to be unfazed by these reports, mainly due to its capability to respond. However, while Trump backed off from similar threats in the past, frustration within his administration over the enduring failed war on the Islamic Republic is certainly growing, and due to this, it could be completely ruled out that he may have indeed ordered action.
In any case, all of this plays in favor of Israel, especially if the reports about it not taking part in the planned attack turn out to be accurate.
Any attack on energy infrastructure in Iran will be met with a response against similar facilities in Gulf states, which in turn may find themselves forced to join the U.S. This means that within days we could see the U.S. and Gulf states engaged in a heated conflict with the Islamic Republic, with Israel standing on the side.
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