By Anat Peled
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel acted alone in its strike on a gas facility in Iran which sent energy prices soaring this week.
"Israel acted alone against the Asaluyeh gas compound," Netanyahu said during a press conference on Thursday. "President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks."
Netanyahu said Israel and the U.S. were closely coordinated and fighting side by side in Iran. "I don't think any two leaders have been as coordinated as Trump and I."
Netanyahu also dismissed claims that Israel pulled the U.S. into the war. "Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?" he asked. "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."
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Trump was informed of the strike ahead of time and had no issues with it, according to American and Israeli officials.
Netanyahu said Iran was now no longer able to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles. He also said that Israel was working to create the conditions for Iranians to rise up against their government.
"It is too early to tell if the Iranian people will take advantage of the opportunities that we are creating for it to go out to the streets. I hope this will be the case and we are working for this to be the case," he said.
This item is part of a Wall Street Journal live coverage event. The full stream can be found by searching P/WSJL (WSJ Live Coverage).
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 19, 2026 17:01 ET (21:01 GMT)
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