Netanyahu Floats Postwar Energy Corridor via Israel as Conflict Reshapes Strategy
Jerusalem— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Middle East oil and gas should be routed through pipelines to Israeli Mediterranean ports after the war with Iran, outlining a potential shift in regional energy logistics as the conflict disrupts Gulf shipping lanes.
Speaking at his second press conference since the start of the war, Netanyahu said pipelines running west across the Arabian Peninsula to Israel could bypass vulnerabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
“Just have oil pipelines, gas pipelines, going west through the Arabian Peninsula, right up to Israel,” Netanyahu said, describing the concept as a long-term structural change that could emerge from the conflict.
Netanyahu said U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Israel to refrain from further attacks on Iranian gas infrastructure following a strike on Iran’s South Pars field, which marked a significant escalation in the war.
“President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel had carried out the operation independently.
The comments reflect growing U.S. concern over rising energy prices and the broader economic impact of strikes on critical infrastructure, particularly as Washington pushes allies to help secure maritime routes in the Gulf.
Netanyahu said that after nearly three weeks of fighting, Iran no longer had the ability to enrich uranium or produce missiles, though he did not provide supporting evidence.
The claim was contested by Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who said in a media interview that significant elements of Iran’s nuclear programme remained intact.
The war began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 following the collapse of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme, and has since expanded to include attacks on energy facilities across the Gulf.
Netanyahu also signaled that Israel’s campaign could broaden beyond air operations, hinting at a possible ground component inside Iran.
He did not elaborate on timing or scope, but said Israel would continue military action to achieve its objectives, as hostilities between the two countries continue to drive volatility in global energy markets and regional security dynamics.
