U.S. official tells CBS News attack on Saudi oil facility was approved by Iran’s supreme leader
InfoSearched
Published -
- September 19, 2019
- 2:19 am
President Trump announced on Wednesday that he will issue substantial sanctions against Iran in response to the attacks on a Saudi oil facility last weekend.
In Riyadh, Saudi officials presented wreckage from drones that they said proves the attack was “unquestionably sponsored by Iran.” Iran says it wasn’t involved, but CBS News national security correspondent David Martin spoke to a U.S. official who said the attack was approved by Iran’s supreme leader.
What is Iran’s response to the accusations and how is this affecting tensions between the U.S. and Iran?
A high-ranking U.S. official has reportedly told CBS News that the recent attack on a Saudi oil facility was approved by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The attack, which occurred on September 14th, involved drones and cruise missiles and resulted in a significant decrease in Saudi Arabia’s oil production. Yemen’s Houthi rebels initially claimed responsibility for the attack, however, both the U.S. and Saudi officials have since pointed the finger at Iran.
Now, the revelation that Iran’s supreme leader allegedly approved the attack marks a significant escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
The unnamed U.S. official reportedly told CBS News that the decision to attack the oil facility was relayed through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is Iran’s powerful military force.
The official claimed that the IRGC was acting on direct orders from Khamenei himself and that the attack was part of a larger effort by Iran to push back against U.S. sanctions.
In response to the attack, the U.S. has ramped up pressure on Iran, imposing additional sanctions and deploying troops to the region. President Trump has also issued warnings to Iran, stating that the U.S. military is “locked and loaded” and ready to respond to any further provocations.
Iran, meanwhile, has denied any involvement in the attack and has accused the U.S. and Saudi Arabia of spreading false information in an effort to justify military action against Iran.
The situation between the U.S. and Iran remains tense, with both sides engaging in a war of words and accusations. The revelation that Iran’s supreme leader allegedly approved the attack on the Saudi oil facility is likely to further complicate the situation and increase the likelihood of potential military action in the future.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Iran will ultimately respond to these developments and whether the international community will be able to intervene to prevent a larger conflict from breaking out.
