US hints at military action over hits on Saudi oil sites
Iran-backed Yemen rebels threaten more such attacks
London, Sept. 16: Oil prices made their biggest jump since the Gulf War on Monday after President Donald Trump warned that the US was “locked and loaded” to respond to attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure that Washington blamed on Iran.
It is the first time the President has hinted at a potential American military response to the drone attacks, which slashed Saudi oil production by half and led both the kingdom and the United States to announce they may tap their strategic reserves.
“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!” Mr Trump tweeted.
Russia on Monday called on “all countries to avoid hasty steps or conclusions that could exacerbate the situation” while the EU stressed all sides should show “maximum restraint”.
China also urged the US and Iran to “exercise restraint... In the absence of a conclusive investigation or verdict.”
Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who claimed responsibility for devastating weekend attacks on Saudi oil facilities, threatened on Monday to carry out more strikes and urged foreigners to stay away. “We assure the Saudi regime that our long hand can reach any place,” Huthi military spokesman said.
Washington Sept 15: President Donald Trump said Sunday the US is “locked and loaded” to respond to an attack on Saudi oil infrastructure that Washington has blamed on Iran, as Riyadh raced to restart operations at plants hit by drone attacks.
It is the first time the president has hinted at a potential American military response to the attack, which slashed Saudi oil production by half and led both the kingdom and the United States to announce they may tap their strategic reserves.
“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!” Trump tweeted.
The Tehran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is bogged down in a five-year war, claimed Saturday's strikes on two plants owned by state energy giant Aramco.
But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pointed the finger squarely at Tehran, saying there was no evidence the “unprecedented attack on the world's energy supply” was launched from Yemen.
“The United States will work with our partners and allies to ensure that energy markets remain well supplied and Iran is held accountable for its aggression,” the top US diplomat said.
That drew an angry
response from Tehran, where foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said: “Such fruitless and blind accusations and remarks are incomprehensible and meaningless.”
The remarks were designed to damage Iran's reputation and provide a pretext for “future actions” against the Islamic republic, he added.
Baghdad, caught between its two main allies -- Tehran and Washington -- also denied any link to the attacks amid media speculation that the drones were launched from Iraq.
Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said the kingdom is “willing and able” to respond to this “terrorist aggression.” But a tit-for-tat strike on Iran is “highly unlikely,” Middle East expert James Dorsey said.