Pompeo Wants Peaceful Resolution After ‘Iranian’ Aramco Attacks, Zarif Warns Of ‘All Out War’

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The United States wants a peaceful solution after attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities blamed on Iran, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday, after Iran raised the prospect of “all-out war”.

Pompeo’s comments came after talks in Abu Dhabi with Gulf allies about responding to the attacks which he has denounced as an “act of war” by Iran.

He said there was an “enormous consensus in the region” that Iran carried out Saturday’s attacks, despite its denials.

“I didn’t hear anyone in the region who doubted that for a single moment,” he said. “We’d like a peaceful resolution. I think we’ve demonstrated that,” he said.

“We’re here to build out a coalition aimed at achieving peace.”

“I hope the Islamic Republic of Iran sees it the same way.”

Pompeo arrived in the UAE capital as Iran’s foreign minister warned that any attack on his country over Saturday’s drone-and-missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry would result in “all-out war,” further pushing up tensions across the Persian Gulf.

The hardening of the US position raises the risk of a dangerous escalation after weekend strikes on the heart of the Saudi oil industry knocked out half its production.

Pompeo flew to Abu Dhabi from Jeddah, where he met late Wednesday with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has said the assault poses a “real test” of global will.

The two sides “agreed that the Iranian regime must be held accountable for its continued aggressive, reckless, and threatening behavior,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in statement after their talks.

The “unacceptable and unprecedented attack… not only threatened Saudi Arabian national security, but also endangered the lives of all the American citizens living and working in Saudi Arabia,” she added.

Pompeo denounced the unprecedented strikes as an Iranian “act of war”, as Riyadh Wednesday unveiled new evidence it said showed the assault was “unquestionably” sponsored by Tehran.

The comments by Mohammad Javad Zarif represent the starkest warning offered yet by Iran in a long summer of mysterious attacks and incidents following the collapse of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, over a year after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord.

Zarif’s comments also appeared to be in response to Pompeo, who a day earlier while traveling to Saudi Arabia referred to the attack as an “act of war.”

Asked by CNN what would be the consequence of a US or Saudi strike, Zarif said: “All-out war.”

“We won’t blink to defend our territory,” he said.

Saudi officials displayed what they said were fragments of 25 drones and cruise missiles fired on Saturday at two facilities in the country’s east, engulfing them in flames.

“The attack was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran,” Saudi-led Arab coalition spokesman Turki Al-Maliki said, but would not be drawn on whether Saudi officials believed Iran would ultimately be found to be the culprit.

Arab News

Arab News is Saudi Arabia's first English-language newspaper. It was founded in 1975 by Hisham and Mohammed Ali Hafiz. Today, it is one of 29 publications produced by Saudi Research & Publishing Company (SRPC), a subsidiary of Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG).

One thought on “Pompeo Wants Peaceful Resolution After ‘Iranian’ Aramco Attacks, Zarif Warns Of ‘All Out War’

  • September 20, 2019 at 11:44 am
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    When MBS cut Jamal Khashogchi into small pieces Pompeo went to MBS and was giving smiles and support to MBS. When thee Saudi facilities were destroyed Pompeo went to MBS showing support and alliance. Pompeo talked about “Act of War.” It looks like Pompeo has overlooked the fact that the Kingdom has been bombing Yemen for the last five years, killing thousands of citizens and destroying elements of live in Yemen with the support of the USA. The USA has been providing fueling for jets to bombs and providing all other supports for the war to be perptual for just to make money.
    Yemen has the rights to destroy all the Kingdom into pieces because Yemen is defending itself. No one expect the Yemeni people to surrender to the KSA. They will fight the Kingdom to the last blood and MBS will not be the next king because he has failed with all his actions.
    Finally, just those killers and war criminal shake hands with MBS. And Pompeo should understand that. He should forget about Iran too because Iran has nothing to do with bombing. It was done by the great Yemeni people. Trump should not forget the innocent people of Yemen been killed daily for Yemen. Capitalists are supposed to have morality.

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