Trump Orders Restraint on Iran Energy Targets Amid Retailiatory Missile Barrages

President Donald Trump has confirmed directives to Israel to restrict strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following a series of escalations that have rattled global oil markets. This shift comes after an attack on the South Pars gas field prompted Iran to launch five missile salvos at Jerusalem and Haifa within a single hour. While Israeli officials reported limited damage from the barrages, the retaliatory strikes have intensified calls for a U.S. exit strategy to prevent a wider global economic crisis. At the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine provided a briefing emphasizing U.S. military dominance. Hegseth reported that Iran’s air defenses and missile production lines are currently "overwhelmingly destroyed" following U.S. operations that included the use of 5,000 lb penetrator weapons on underground coastal defense sites. Despite this, Hegseth defended the escalation of force without articulating a specific diplomatic endgame, stating the U.S. remains "not afraid" to use lethal force against threats. On the diplomatic front, the UN nuclear watchdog warned that military action has not fully neutralized Iran's nuclear ambitions, noting that significant portions of the program have survived recent hostilities. Meanwhile, intelligence reports suggest a broadening proxy war, with Iranian intelligence linked to threats against U.S. troops in Kuwait. Analysts remain divided on whether the current U.S. posture will lead to a ceasefire or further economic warfare as regional energy sites remain in the crosshairs.