U.S. and Israel Diverge on Goals in Ongoing War Against Iran

As a global power, U.S. focuses on energy supplies and Gulf allies, while Israel as a regional power prioritizes regime change and dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:35am

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The U.S. and Israel have taken different approaches in their war against Iran, reflecting their differing strategic goals and priorities. As a global power, the U.S. is more concerned about global energy supplies, the safety of its Gulf allies, and the political impact of rising fuel prices. In contrast, Israel as a regional power is more focused on regime change in Iran, dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and degrading the capabilities of Hezbollah, Iran's proxy force in Lebanon. This divergence has led to tensions, with Israel launching attacks on Iranian infrastructure that the U.S. has criticized privately.

Why it matters

The diverging goals and approaches of the U.S. and Israel in the war against Iran highlight the challenges of maintaining a united front against a common adversary. While both countries share the ultimate aim of weakening Iran, their differing strategic priorities and cost tolerances have led to occasional clashes that could undermine the overall effort. This dynamic raises questions about how the two allies will coordinate their actions and resolve their differences as the conflict continues.

The details

Israel launched a major attack on an Iranian gas field this week, prompting retaliation by Iran against Gulf States and a threat to global energy supplies. President Trump initially distanced the U.S. from the strike, underscoring the diverging aims of the two countries. The U.S., as a global power, is more concerned about global energy supplies and the safety of its Persian Gulf allies, as well as the political impact of rising fuel prices. In contrast, Israel, as a regional power, has different strategic aims and more narrow concerns, such as dismantling Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and degrading Hezbollah's capabilities.

  • This week, Israel launched a major attack on an Iranian gas field.
  • In October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza, putting the country on a war footing.

The players

United States

A superpower with global responsibilities, including maintaining global energy supplies and the safety of its Persian Gulf allies.

Israel

A regional power with a more narrow set of strategic goals, such as regime change in Iran, dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and degrading Hezbollah's capabilities.

Iran

A sworn enemy of Israel, which Israel sees as a clear danger due to Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles.

President Trump

The U.S. president, who is concerned about the political impact of rising fuel prices in the U.S. ahead of crucial midterm elections.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Israeli prime minister, who must conduct elections by October and is focused on keeping the American president and U.S. military on his side.

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What they’re saying

“We are a global power and they are a regional one. So their threat assessments create a different set of objectives than ours.”

— Aaron David Miller, Former U.S. Middle East negotiator, Carnegie Endowment

“Israel doesn't care as much about this. They have a set of strategic objectives and believe they are succeeding, and they're not as price sensitive as the White House. They are more willing to weather the storm and try to finish the job.”

— Suzanne Maloney, Iran expert and director of the foreign policy program at the Brookings Institution

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of maintaining a united front between the U.S. and Israel in the war against Iran, as their differing strategic priorities and cost tolerances have led to occasional clashes. Resolving these differences will be crucial as the conflict continues, as the two allies must find a way to coordinate their actions and achieve their shared goal of weakening Iran's influence in the region.