President Trump expressed strong objections to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over the bombing of Iran's massive South Pars gas field, a strike that sent global oil prices soaring and exposed fundamental strategic differences between the two allies. Trump told reporters he had explicitly told Netanyahu 'don't do that' regarding the attack, which targeted Iran's primary revenue source, and suggested Israel would avoid similar actions in the future. While Trump claimed the US and Israel were 'coordinated,' Israeli officials confirmed they informed Washington beforehand, contradicting Trump's subsequent assertion of ignorance.

This public disagreement highlights the stark contrast: Israel seeks to cripple Iran through economic pressure and leadership targeting, potentially aiming for 'state collapse,' while the US prioritizes containing regional escalation and stabilizing energy markets. The attack triggered Iranian counter-strikes on Gulf energy facilities, demonstrating Iran's capability to retaliate asymmetrically despite US claims of significant damage to its military infrastructure.