The US security forces have satellite images and other intelligence that would show that Iran was involved in the attack with drones and possibly cruise missiles on oil installations in Saudi Arabia. President Trump alludes to a possible military retaliation.
Responsibility for this weekend’s attacks has been claimed by Houthi rebels fighting a coalition led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. The Americans find the claim unbelievable. They say the attacks were too extensive to be carried out by the Houthi rebels. The US holds Iran responsible, that country contradicts the accusations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Pompeo directly accused Iran this weekend, but did not provide any evidence. President Trump wrote on Twitter that the US knows who is responsible for the attacks and that he is ready to take action. But he wants to wait until Saudi Arabia has designated a guilty party.
The photos show, among other things, that the attacks came from the west and north-west. That could indicate launching facilities in the northern part of the Gulf region. Yemen is certainly south of Saudi Arabia. Iran itself is located east of Saudi Arabia.
Major fires started during the attacks. The fires are under control, according to the Saudi authorities. The Saudi state-owned company had to halve oil production. That means that 5.7 million barrels of oil are produced less every day.
Crude oil prices have risen sharply after this weekend’s attacks. The price of a barrel of Brent oil rose 19 percent at the start of trade in Asia, to 71.95. The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate, which is also an important reference point for the oil market, rose by 15 percent to $ 63.45.
The expectation is that prices at the pump will also rise in the coming days.
