Attack on Saudi Arabia: the United States prepares the answer

Pompeo will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Salman on Wednesday to "coordinate efforts to counter Iran's aggression in the region," the State Department said.

Vice President Mike Pence also said Mike Pompeo was on his way to the kingdom to "discuss our response".

"As the President said, we do not want to go to war with anyone, but the United States is prepared," said Mike Pence in a speech in Washington.

"I promise you: we are ready (…) We are ready to respond and we are ready to defend our interests and our allies in the region," he said.

The United States is confident that attacks on two important oil sites in eastern Saudi Arabia have been carried out from Iranian soil and that cruise missiles have been used, AFP quoted a senior official as saying on Tuesday. American.

Although the attack was claimed by pro-Iranian Houthi rebels who regularly fire ballistic missiles from targets in southern Yemen from Yemen, the US intelligence services elements that can locate the origin of the shots, said the official speaking under the guise of anonymity.

The US administration is preparing a case to prove its case and convince the international community, including the Europeans, to the UN General Assembly next week, he added.

So far, Donald Trump has been less categorical, saying Monday wait to be certain and want to consult with Ryad on any possible response.

Tuesday, Mike Pence has taken the cautious formulation of the US president. Iran "seems" to be "behind these attacks," he said. "Our intelligence services are analyzing the evidence at this very moment," said the vice president, adding that Mr. Trump would decide what to do next "in the coming days".

On Monday, Saudi Arabia claimed that the weapons used were Iranian-made, but Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdel Aziz bin Salman said on Tuesday that his country "did not know who is behind" these attacks.

The United States "denies" reality when it accuses Tehran of being responsible for the attacks, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday.

While Sunday, the White House had said that Mr. Trump did not rule out the possibility of meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rohani at the UN General Assembly in New York, the US president appeared on Tuesday. exclude such a meeting.

"I never exclude anything, but I prefer not to meet him," he said.

Tehran had earlier ruled out negotiations with the United States at the United Nations.

"If the United States (…) repents for having withdrawn" in 2018 from the Iranian nuclear deal, and they decide to return to it, "then they will be able to participate in discussions between the Iran and other members "parties to this agreement," said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader.

"Otherwise, no negotiations will take place between the Islamic Republic and US officials at any level" whatsoever, "in New York" or elsewhere, added the Iranian number one.

The attacks woke up fears of a military clash with Iran, while Washington and Tehran came close to the direct military clash in June. Trump said he canceled strikes against Iranian targets in the last minute after the Islamic Republic shot down an American drone.

London and Berlin on Tuesday called for a "collective response" from the international community after the attacks last weekend.

While visiting Cairo, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called him "de-escalation". A similar call was launched by Beijing.

These attacks resulted in a 50 percent drop in Saudi oil production, or 5.7 million barrels a day, or about 6 percent of the world's oil supply.

After yesterday's record high, oil prices fell on Tuesday, while Ryad ensured that production would be restored by the end of September.

The barrel of WTI for delivery in October, the US crude, fell 3.56 dollars to finish at 59.34 dollars, while the Brent barrel in London for delivery in November was down, just minutes from its own fence of 6.14% to 64.78 dollars.

Monday, the Brent, reference world market, had jumped more than 14.6%, its highest increase since 1988. The WTI, barrel reference in New York, had taken, him, 14.7%, its largest increase since December 2008.