By HAN News Desk
WASHINGTON / MUSCAT / TEHRAN — A report by the newspaper The New York Times says the prime minister of Israel had spent months lobbying U.S. President Donald Trump not to cancel a potential military strike against Iran, even as diplomatic negotiations were underway.
According to the report, Trump ultimately approved the strike on Saturday, despite ongoing talks between the United States and Iran that had reportedly made significant progress just days earlier. The negotiations had been mediated by Oman, whose foreign minister said both sides had moved closer to an understanding during discussions held Thursday.
The development highlights the fragile state of diplomacy in the region, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate following the military action.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned that U.S. military installations across the region could become targets if the conflict continues. In public remarks, Araghchi said Iran does not consider neighboring countries enemies but views American bases in the region as “legitimate targets.”
He also emphasized that Iran does not see the current conflict as a regional war, but rather as a direct confrontation between Iran and the United States that has expanded into the broader Middle East.
Tensions rose further after statements attributed to Iranian military officials suggested possible threats to global energy routes. Iranian General Ebrahim Jabbari warned that Iran could attack vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes, and target oil pipelines in the region.
Jabbari said Iran would not allow oil exports from the region if the conflict intensifies, adding that such disruptions could push global oil prices sharply higher in the coming days.
Separately, an adviser to the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran could target what he described as the enemy’s oil supply lines and would seek to prevent energy exports from the region if hostilities escalate further.
The statements reflect mounting rhetoric on all sides as concerns grow internationally that the conflict could widen, potentially affecting global energy markets and security across the Middle East.
