The United States has issued satellite images and cited intelligence to support its allegation Iran was the main culprit behind major attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
Iran denies involvement in Saturday’s drone attacks, which were claimed by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.
But anonymous US officials speaking to the US and international media state the direction and level of the attacks create doubt on Houthi involvement.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran at the weekend, without providing any evidence, involving Tehran to accuse Washington of deceit.
President Donald Trump on twitter refrained from directly accusing Iran but hinted possible military response once the perpetrator was known.
Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2019
One US official said there were 19 points of impact on the targets and the attacks were made from a west-north-west direction, which is not Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, as it lies to the south-west of the Saudi oil facilities.
A Saudi-driven coalition fighting in Yemen has also accused Iran of providing the weapons for the attack.
A close-up image (above) of damaged tanks at the Abqaiq processing plant appeared to show impact points on the western side.
Iraq denied all the accusations that the attacks were projected from its territory. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said Mr. Pompeo had assured him in a phone call on Monday that the US-backed Iraq’s position.
China and the European Union have, separately, adviced to practice restraint.
UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Monday it was “not entirely clear” who was responsible for the attacks but it had escalated the chances of a regional conflict amid serious crisis.
In the UK, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also expressed his concern that it was not yet clear who was the culprit, but called the act a “wanton violation of international law”.
