Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly assured U.S. President Joe Biden that Israel intends to target only military sites in Iran, avoiding nuclear and oil facilities.
According to sources cited by The Washington Post, Netanyahu conveyed this plan to Biden during an October 9 phone call, stating that Israel’s strikes would focus on military infrastructure. This approach suggests that Israel may opt for a “limited counterstrike” to prevent a full-scale conflict.
The report notes that the White House was relieved by Netanyahu’s assurance, as an attack on Iran’s oil facilities could cause a significant spike in global energy prices. Additionally, any strike on Iranian nuclear facilities could escalate tensions, increasing the risk of U.S. involvement in a broader conflict.
Earlier, Biden had expressed opposition to Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. Sources indicate that Netanyahu was more restrained in this discussion compared to previous conversations.
The report also suggests that an Israeli strike on military targets in Iran is expected to occur before the U.S. presidential election on November 5.
Meanwhile, Iran has evacuated its super-tankers from Kharg Island, the country’s largest oil terminal, amid fears of an imminent Israeli attack. TankerTrackers, an international tanker tracking firm, reported that empty Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) super-tankers belonging to the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) departed from the terminal, leaving the anchorage empty for the first time in recent history.
This development was further confirmed by the investigative agency Hunterbrook, which analyzed satellite imagery and noted that Kharg Island’s anchorage has not been completely vacant since the imposition of sanctions in 2018.
