In this Dec. 14, 2017, photo, the remains of an Iranian Qasef-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, used as a one-way attack to dive on targets and then detonating its warhead, which was fired by Yemen into Saudi Arabia, according to then-U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, is seen during a press briefing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. Saudi Arabia said drones attacked one of its oil pipelines as other assaults targeted energy infrastructure elsewhere in the kingdom on Tuesday, May, 14, 2019, shortly after Yemen’s rebels claimed a coordinated drone attack on the Sunni power. (Cliff Owen/AP)

US Officials Claim Attacks on Saudi Oil Came From Iran

Jason Ditz / AntiWar.com

(September 17, 2019) — US interest in pinning the Saturday drone attacks against Saudi Arabia on Iran continue apace, even though President Trump does not appear to want to use such allegations to start a war. 

Officials continue to make claims of evidence, though as usual they continue not to provide any of that evidence to the public to evaluate. Officials claim they can say that the attack originated in southwest Iran, but again, aren’t clear on how that happened.

Instead, US officials are trying to discredit the more likely alternative, that Yemen’s Houthis did it. This is the most probable source of the attack, because the Houthis have very publicly said they did it. US officials, however, say the Houthis never used drones before, as though that proves they couldn’t have developed what is basically a commercially available technology. 

In what is perhaps the least credible aspect of the investigation, US investigators claim that the Saudis recovered a “pristine” circuit board off of a cruise missile fired in the area. The US is trying to pin it on Iran.

And yet, the very idea is preposterous. The suggestion that a circuit board in a missile full of explosives flew through Iran, Iraqi airspace, and Saudi airspace and then slammed in the ground, and miraculously remained “pristine” is simply not credible. 

Saudi Oil Attacks Came from Southwest Iran, US Official Says, Raising Tensions

Phil Stewart and Parisa Hafezi / Reuters

WASHINGTON/DUBAI (September 17, 2019) — The United States believes the attacks that crippled Saudi Arabian oil facilities last weekend originated in southwestern Iran, a US official told Reuters, an assessment that further increases tension in the Middle East.

Three officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the attacks involved cruise missiles and drones, indicating that they involved a higher degree of complexity and sophistication than initially thought.

The officials did not provide evidence or explain what US intelligence they were using for the evaluations. Such intelligence, if shared publicly, could further pressure Washington, Riyadh and others to respond, perhaps militarily.

Saudi state television said the Saudi Defence Ministry will hold a media conference on Wednesday that will show evidence of Iran’s involvement in the Aramco attacks, including the use of Iranian weapons.

Iran denies involvement in the strikes. Iran’s allies in Yemen’s civil war, the Houthi movement, claimed responsibility, saying they struck the plants with drones including some powered by jet engines.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said it looked as if Iran — which has a long history of friction with neighbor Saudi Arabia — was behind the attacks.

Iran Falsely Blamed for Yemeni Houthis’ Retaliation Against Saudi

Stephen Lendman / Pravda Report

(September 16, 2019) — Establishment media march in lockstep, featuring state-approved propaganda over truth-telling on major issues. Despite no evidence suggesting Iranian involvement in striking Saudi oil facilities on Saturday, likely causing significant damage, establishment media headlines read like Trump regime/Pentagon press releases: 

NYT: “Saudi Oil Attack Photos Implicate Iran, US Says; Trump Hints at Military Action” 

The Times falsely claimed “strikes came from the direction of Iraq or Iran.” No credible evidence suggests it. 

Washington Post: “Diplomacy now or later? Politicians debate how to handle Iranian aggression (sic)” 

Wall Street Journal: “US Blames Iran for Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities” 

WSJ: “An attack on Saudi oil production shows John Bolton was right (sic)” 

Fox News: “Attack on Saudi oil facility shows Trump was right to pull out of Iran nuke deal (sic)” 

Fox News: “After Saudi Arabia is attacked, will US military attack Iran?” 

MSNBC: “US blames Iran for attack on Saudi oil refineries” 

CNN: “Trump: US ‘locked and loaded depending on verification’ of attack on Saudi oil field” 

ABC News: “Iran fired cruise missiles in attack on Saudi oil facility: Senior US official (sic),” adding: 

“Iran launched nearly a dozen cruise missiles and over 20 drones from its territory in the attack on a key Saudi oil facility Saturday (sic), (an unnamed) senior Trump administration official told ABC News Sunday.” 

The broadcaster and other establishment media failed to explain that no credible evidence backs phony accusations made. 

CBS News: “US blames Iran for drone strikes on Saudi oil plants” 

NBC News: “US-Iran tensions escalate after attack on Saudi oil sites” 

Chicago Tribune: “Trump: US locked and loaded for response to attack on Saudis” 

LA Times: “Oil jumps the most ever after attack cuts Saudi Arabian supplies” 

National Pentagon Radio (NPR): “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has directly accused Tehran of playing a key role in the strikes” on Saudi oil facilities” – despite no evidence suggesting it not stressed. 

USA Today: “Saudi attack, possible US response” 

AP News: “Energy prices spike after Saudi oil attack, US blaming Iran” 

Reuters: “White House defends blaming Iran for Houthi oil attack” 

Reuters: “Iran hardliners likely to gain from tensions over Aramco attacks (sic)” 

UK-owned and controlled BBC: “Saudi oil attacks: US says intelligence shows Iran involved (sic)” 

London Guardian: “Saudi Arabia oil attack: Trump hints at action as US points finger at Iran” 

Al Jazeera: “Mike Pompeo blames Iran for Aramco drone attacks” 

German public broadcaster DW: “US blames Iran for Saudi oil attack despite Iranian denials” 

Iran debunked false US accusations. No evidence suggests its involvement in Saturday attacks on Saudi oil facilities. 

Its Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said “(t)o pin such action on Iran is in line with the (US) maximum deceit approach that they have adopted following their failures,” adding: 

“Yemen has been entangled in war for five years, and Iran has naturally clearly announced that it supports the Yemeni people and their rights, but blaming Iran for (actions by Houthis) is in line with (the US policy of) maximum lie(s). Such remarks are essentially baseless and untrue.” 

China’s Foreign Ministry called false US accusations against Iran “irresponsible,” adding: “China’s position is that we oppose any moves that expand or intensify conflict.” 

Russia’s Foreign Ministry sent mixed messages. It “resolutely condemn(ed)” Saturday’s attack that disrupted world energy markets with potentially negative consequences for the global economy. 

While noting that striking Saudi oil facilities is a “direct consequence of the continuing crisis in Yemen,” the Ministry failed to explain that Yemeni Houthis responded to Saudi aggression in self-defense, their legal right under the UN Charter and other international law. 

They want peace and stability restored to the war-torn country. The most strategically effective way is by making the Saudis pay dearly for their unlawful actions – in cahoots with the US. 

At the same time, Russia “strongly recommend(ed)” against rushing to rash conclusions and considering “military options,” it called “unacceptable.” 

The Kremlin wants Middle East wars resolved diplomatically, clearly against the region boiling over by attacking Iran. 

On Monday, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said another attack on Saudi facilities may be launched at any time. He urged foreign companies and personnel working at Saudi energy and other facilities to immediately leave to avoid being in harm’s way. He claimed Houthi forces can strike strategic Saudi targets whenever they wish, adding: 

“Riyadh must reconsider its calculations and stop its attacks and blockade against Yemen,” indicating further strikes will occur otherwise. 

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