Mike Pompeo calls oil site attacks an ‘act of war’ as Saudis display ‘proof’ that Iran was behind strikes
- Drone and missile remnants show attacks were ‘unquestionably sponsored’ by Tehran, US ally says
- Trump announces new sanctions, says there are ‘many options’ short of war with Iran
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called strikes on Saudi Arabia’s oil sites an “act of war” on Wednesday, as the US ally displayed remnants of drones and missiles it said were used in a crippling attack that was “unquestionably sponsored” by Tehran.
The senior official made his comments after US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he had ordered the US Treasury to “substantially increase sanctions on the country of Iran!” and told reporters the unspecified, punitive economic measures would be unveiled within 48 hours.
Trump’s tweet followed repeated US assertions that the Islamic Republic was behind Saturday’s attack and came hours after Saudi Arabia said the strike was a “test of global will”.
The president said on Wednesday, however, that there were many options short of war with Iran
“There are many options. There’s the ultimate option and there are options that are a lot less than that. And we’ll see,” Trump told reporters in Los Angeles. “I’m saying the ultimate option meaning go in – war.”
Iran again denied involvement in the September 14 raids, which hit the world’s biggest crude oil processing facility and initially knocked out half of Saudi output. Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading oil exporter.
