Israel minister says US blocks Iranian energy strikes

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, that the United States is currently blocking Israel from launching strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, citing severe global economic concerns. Katz, speaking in a televised interview, said Israel is militarily prepared to act independently if directly attacked by Tehran, and he revealed that U.S. warplanes have been using Israeli bases to conduct their own operations against Iran.

Katz explained that the U.S. refusal stems from fears that targeting Iran's energy sector would provoke retaliatory attacks on neighboring Gulf states, potentially choking crucial oil shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz and triggering a global energy crisis. He emphasized Israel's contrasting view, stating that disabling Iran's economic core is vital to countering its threat. "We very much want to strike Iran's energy targets, but the United States is not approving it at the moment," Katz said. He asserted Israeli readiness, claiming forces are prepared to "set Iran back 40 years."

The defense minister outlined a clear contingency plan, stating he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to maintain preparations for...