Iran's President Hassan Rohani has described the recent attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia as a "warning" to the government in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia should learn from it "lessons". The Yemenis have the legitimate right to resist the destruction of their country - and to attack industrial targets as a warning, Rohani said in Tehran. "These warnings should be taken seriously and the war of fire in Yemen should be erased once and for all."
The Yemeni Houthi rebels were aware of the attacks on the Saudi Arabian state-owned Aramco oil companies in Abkaik and Churais on Saturday. They are supported in the Yemeni civil war by Iran in their fight against a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia. Rohani did not specifically refer to the Shiite Houthis in his statement.
He also rejected Iran's involvement in the attacks on the oil facilities. "In addition to the political and economic sanctions, the US now comes with allegations against Iran," said Ruhani. The US itself knew that they were absurd and groundless and would not be taken seriously at international level.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently made Iran directly responsible. US President Donald Trump also targeted Iran as a potential supervisor after the attacks.
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Saudi ambassador in London blames Iran for the attacks
In the meantime, Saudi Arabia also suspects that Iran was involved in the attacks. It is almost certain that Iran has supported the attacks, said the Saudi Ambassador in London, Prince Khaled bin Bander is Sultan Al Saud of the BBC.
His country did not want to act too hastily. "Because the last thing we need is another conflict in the region." Saudi Arabia is working with the United States, United Kingdom, United Nations and other partners to investigate the situation and find out where the attacks came from.
In the investigation of the attacks are now French experts help. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a telephone conversation that the experts were being posted, the Élysée Palace said.
The experts would be sent at the request of the Saudi authorities to investigate, inter alia, attackers and the course of the attack. In the conversation Macron had condemned the attacks in the strongest, it was said. He assured the Crown Prince of France's solidarity and reaffirmed France's commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia and the stability of the region.
No US visa yet: Rohani could cancel UN participation
The US has apparently not issued an entry visa to Rohani before the upcoming UN General Assembly. The state news agency Irna reports, citing government circles. As a result, the Presidential and Foreign Affairs Departments consider canceling the planned participation in the United Nations General Assembly next week. This could happen in the next few hours if the visas were not issued by then, Irna continued.
For weeks it has been speculated that it could also come to talks Rohanis with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the general debate. Although Rohani has rejected a bilateral meeting with Trump, but not a conversation with him in the presence of the other five parties to the nuclear agreement - these are China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany. The condition, however, is a repeal of the US sanctions that have plunged Iran into an acute economic crisis in recent months.