Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have informed the United States that any military response to Iran will focus solely on military installations, avoiding oil and nuclear sites, as per a source familiar with the talks.

President Joe Biden, who has publicly expressed his disapproval of targeting Tehran’s nuclear and oil infrastructure, engaged in a confidential phone conversation with Netanyahu last week to discuss Israel’s military strategy. During this discussion, Netanyahu assured Biden that the focus would be on military objectives, according to the source.

The Washington Post was the first to report that Netanyahu had provided Biden with assurances regarding the exclusion of nuclear and oil facilities from potential strikes.

In response to this report, Netanyahu’s office stated that while it values U.S. perspectives, the final decision regarding Iran’s October 1 attack will be guided by Israel’s own national interests. American officials confirmed that they are maintaining close coordination with Israel as it formulates its response.

“We take into account the views of the United States, but our ultimate decisions will be based on our national interests,” Netanyahu’s office communicated via X.

The White House has not addressed Netanyahu’s alleged message regarding the avoidance of nuclear and oil facilities, but it previously characterized last week’s phone call between the leaders as “productive” and “direct.” This conversation marked their first interaction in nearly two months.

Israel’s considerations on how to react to Iran occur during a period of heightened tensions in the ongoing conflict, which has escalated from Gaza into Lebanon. White House officials are attempting to restrict Israel’s response to the recent missile attacks, aiming to avert a broader conflict.

Nevertheless, President Biden and other senior officials have affirmed Israel’s right to retaliate and indicated that they are in close communication with their Israeli counterparts as they contemplate their options.

A military strike on oil fields, which could lead to a surge in energy prices, would be particularly problematic just weeks before the U.S. elections, according to officials. Additionally, an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites could provoke a full-scale regional war, a scenario Biden is keen to avoid.

U.S. officials anticipate a restrained response from Israel, believing that the nation is not inclined to escalate the conflict with Iran. However, Biden’s influence over Netanyahu has been limited as he faces challenges in curbing the violence in Gaza and preventing a wider war.