![]() ![]() The Islamic Republic has blamed “thugs” linked to the United States and other regional adversaries for orchestrating street demonstrations that have rocked Iran since mid-November, when the government hiked fuel prices. The United States also launched cyber attacks against Iran, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to accuse Iran of an “act of war.” In the aftermath, Tehran was hit with additional U.S. The attack temporarily halved Saudi Arabia’s oil production and knocked out 5% of the world’s oil supply. Fires erupted at the company’s Khurais oil installation and at the Abqaiq oil processing facility, the world’s largest. The 17-minute strike on two Aramco installations by 18 drones and three low-flying missiles revealed the vulnerability of the Saudi oil company, despite billions spent by the kingdom on security. There was no groundswell of support in Congress for military intervention to aid the Saudis after the attack. But its war on Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians, and the brutal murder of Washington-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents last year, have strained its relations with U.S. The kingdom is Iran’s principal regional rival and a petroleum giant whose production is crucial to the world economy. and Saudi officials, who said the sophistication of the offensive pointed to Iran. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, at the center of a civil war against Saudi-backed forces, claimed responsibility for the assault on Saudi oil facilities. A senior Trump administration official did not directly comment on Reuters’ findings but said Tehran’s “behavior and its decades-long history of destructive attacks and support for terrorism are why Iran’s economy is in shambles.” Central Intelligence Agency and Pentagon declined to comment. The Saudi government communications office did not respond to a request for comment. “No, no, no, no, no, and no,” Miryousefi said to detailed questions from Reuters on the alleged gatherings and Khamenei’s purported role. He said Iran played no part in the strikes, that no meetings of senior security officials took place to discuss such an operation, and that Khamenei did not authorize any attack. Tehran has steadfastly denied involvement.Īlireza Miryousefi, spokesman for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations in New York, rejected the version of events the four people described to Reuters. A Revolutionary Guards spokesman declined to comment. Reuters was unable to confirm their version of events with Iran’s leadership. These people said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved the operation, but with strict conditions: Iranian forces must avoid hitting any civilians or Americans. 14 attack on Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-controlled oil company. This account, described to Reuters by three officials familiar with the meetings and a fourth close to Iran’s decision making, is the first to describe the role of Iran’s leaders in plotting the Sept. Iran opted instead to target oil installations of America’s ally, Saudi Arabia, a proposal discussed by top Iranian military officials in that May meeting and at least four that followed. Yet, what ultimately emerged was a plan that stopped short of direct confrontation that could trigger a devastating U.S. ![]() Hard-liners in the meeting talked of attacking high-value targets, including American military bases. “It is time to take out our swords and teach them a lesson,” the commander said, according to four people familiar with the meeting. ![]() With Major General Hossein Salami, leader of the Revolutionary Guards, looking on, a senior commander took the floor. The main topic that day in May: How to punish the United States for pulling out of a landmark nuclear treaty and re-imposing economic sanctions on Iran, moves that have hit the Islamic Republic hard. The group included the top echelons of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite branch of the Iranian military whose portfolio includes missile development and covert operations. ![]() FILE PHOTO: Smoke is seen following a fire at Aramco facility in the eastern city of Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 14, 2019. ![]()
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