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.

The Israeli Defense Forces said the attacks targeted “infrastructure of the Iranian regime” in the capital, without providing operational details. The strikes came a day after Trump publicly cautioned Israel against repeating attacks on Iranian natural gas facilities, highlighting emerging divergences within the U.S.-Israeli alignment.

Iran’s retaliation in recent days has expanded the conflict’s geographic scope, with Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reporting missile activity early on Friday. The widening theatre of operations underscores the vulnerability of Gulf states as the confrontation increasingly targets strategic economic assets.

Iranian strikes earlier hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, a key hub processing roughly one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas supply. Damage to the facility is expected to take years to repair, according to initial assessments, amplifying concerns over long-term supply disruptions in global energy markets.

Saudi Arabia’s main Red Sea port was also attacked on Thursday, despite efforts to reroute exports away from the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint that Iran has sought to pressure by threatening or disrupting transit.

Energy prices surged on Thursday following the strike on Qatar’s gas infrastructure, reflecting market anxiety over supply shocks. However, oil prices retreated on Friday after European countries and Japan signaled readiness to support maritime security operations to ensure continued passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States also outlined measures to increase oil output, helping to offset immediate supply fears and stabilize market sentiment. The Strait remains a conduit for roughly one-fifth of global oil flows, making any disruption a significant risk to international energy stability.

The attacks on high-value energy infrastructure across the Gulf have highlighted both Iran’s retaliatory reach and the limitations of existing air defense systems in protecting dispersed, high-capacity facilities.

The conflict, which escalated after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 following failed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, has since resulted in thousands of casualties and triggered cascading economic and security repercussions across the region.

Washington said it had not been informed in advance of Israel’s earlier strike on Iranian gas infrastructure, a development that adds complexity to coordination between the allies as the conflict evolves.