Benjamin Netanyahu rejects claim Israel dragged US into war: ‘Trump decides what’s good for America’

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected claims that Israel influenced the United States to strike Iran’s South Pars gas field, stressing that the operation was carried out independently and dismissing suggestions of US involvement.

Highlighting this point, he said, “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?” Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, March 19, the Israeli leader said Trump had requested that there be no further such attacks on energy targets.

His comments followed Donald Trump’s statement that the US “knew nothing about this particular attack.”

Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel acted alone in Iran South Pars attack

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has paused additional strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field, following a request from the United States. He firmly denied claims that Israel pushed Washington into the conflict, as per BBC News.

Netanyahu said, “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?” He added, “Come on. President Trump always makes his decisions on what he thinks is good for America and, may I add, I think what is also good for future generations.”

Netanyahu also made it clear that the strike on the gas field was carried out independently, saying Israel “acted alone.” He did not clarify whether the US had prior knowledge of the operation, but insisted, “I misled no one.” According to Netanyahu, the pause in further action came after a direct request from Trump. He said, “President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we're holding.”

Trump says US knew nothing about Iran South Pars strike 

After Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, Donald Trump responded with a lengthy statement on Truth Social, stressing that the US was not involved. He said, "The United States knew nothing about this particular attack," and added that "the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it."

Warning against further escalation, he declared, "NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL," unless Iran takes further action, adding that if Qatar is targeted again, the US "will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field."

Speaking later in the Oval Office during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump did not confirm whether he had prior knowledge of the strike. He said, "I told him, don't do that, and he won't do that," while describing the relationship as "coordinated" but also noting, "on occasion he'll do something... and if I don't like it... We're not doing that anymore."

On the other hand, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also made it clear that American forces were not part of the operation, saying "that particular case those weren't our strikes." The attack on the South Pars gas field then led to Iranian retaliation, including aerial strikes on energy facilities in Qatar and across the region, sharply raising tensions.