‘Not A Good Idea’: US Reacts After Israel Pounds 30 Iranian Fuel Depots In A Day

Last Updated:March 09, 2026, 09:07 IST

Israel's strikes on 30 Iranian fuel depots exceeded US expectations, causing disagreement. Tehran saw large fires and black rain.

Israel’s strikes on 30 Iranian fuel depots on Saturday went far beyond what the United States expected after being notified in advance, triggering the first significant disagreement between the allies since the war began eight days ago, Axios reported, citing a US official, an Israeli official and a source with knowledge of the matter. Follow Iran-Israel-US War Live Updates

According to Axios, Israeli and US officials said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) informed the US military ahead of the operation. However, a US official told Axios that Washington was surprised by how wide-ranging the strikes turned out to be.

“We don’t think it was a good idea," a senior US official told Axios.

Also Read: When Will Iran War End? Trump Says It’ll Be A ‘Mutual’ Decision With Netanyahu

An Israeli official described the US response in stark terms, telling Axios the message from Washington was: “WTF".

The Israeli air force’s strikes sparked large fires in Tehran, with flames visible for miles and heavy smoke blanketing parts of the capital.

In a statement, the IDF said the fuel depots “are used by the Iranian regime to supply fuel to different consumers, including its military organs." An Israeli military official said the operation was also meant to signal to Iran to stop targeting Israeli civilian infrastructure.

According to Axios, US officials are concerned that strikes on infrastructure serving ordinary Iranians could backfire strategically by rallying public support around the regime and increasing volatility in global oil markets.

Also Read: Who Is Mojtaba Khamenei? Son Of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Is Iran’s New Supreme Leader

While the facilities targeted were not oil production sites, US officials fear that visuals of burning depots could spook markets and push energy prices higher, Axios reported.

“The president doesn’t like the attack. He wants to save the oil. He doesn’t want to burn it. And it reminds people of higher gas prices," a Trump adviser told Axios.

The White House and the IDF did not comment, according to Axios.

Meanwhile, Iran signalled possible retaliation. The spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, which oversees military operations, warned that if attacks on Iran’s oil infrastructure continue, Tehran could respond with similar strikes across the region.

Also Read: ‘Big Sense Of Betrayal’: Qatar PM Slams Iran’s Strikes On Gulf As ‘Dangerous Miscalculation’

He said Iran has so far refrained from targeting regional fuel and energy infrastructure, but warned that oil prices could rise to $200 per barrel if it does.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also warned that if attacks on infrastructure persist, Iran would retaliate “without delay."

According to Axios, the disagreement over the scope of the strikes and US expectations for the war is likely to be addressed at senior political levels between the two allies.

Following the massive fires sparked by Israeli strikes on fuel depots in and around Tehran, rainfall in the Iranian capital turned black as oil particles from the smoke plumes mixed with precipitation, leaving streets, cars and rooftops stained in dark residue.

Heavy smoke from burning Iranian oil infrastructure blanketed the skyline for hours, and residents reported that the contaminated rainwater carried soot and hydrocarbons that settled over large areas of Tehran. between the two allies.

News world ‘Not A Good Idea’: US Reacts After Israel Pounds 30 Iranian Fuel Depots In A Day

Read More