Saudi oil attack: Trump administration implicates Iran; crisis escalates

United States President Donald Trump addressed the attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia on Sunday after a senior official from his administration pointed fingers at Iran.

In his statement, Trump doubled down on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim that Iran launched the attack that took place Saturday.

“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 wrote on Twitter.

The U.S. president also gave the go signal to utilize the country’s emergency oil stocks in order to stabilize energy supplies following the attack.

Five percent of global oil production was shut down after the attack leading to a 19 percent increase in crude prices as reported by Reuters. Saudi Arabia holds the world’s largest oil-processing facility. The Saudi Arabian Oil Company said 5.7 million barrels per day were cut from oil production since Saturday’s attack.

Yemeni Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attack but Pompeo dismissed the claim as he insisted Iran’s involvement. The U.S. secretary said on Sunday that no evidence could prove the attack was committed by Yemen.

“Amid all the calls for de-escalation, Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply,” Pompeo tells media in his statement.

Iran has denied the allegations, as the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi describe this as “pointless”.

Danny Manly
Danny Manly
Danny is a reporter and news columnist for Best in Australia. He covers world news the latest world news headlines and international news including US News and Europe, Middle East News.
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