Saudi Arabia Deploys American-Made Patriot Defence System. But Has The System Failed To Prevent The Attacks On Oil Facilities?

Gravitas: Saudi Arabia spends billions on Defence, But why can't it protect its assets?

Houthis In Focus After Attacks On Saudi Oil Facilities

Gravitas: Houthis, backed by Iran, Take on Saudi Arabia

Is Trump Waiting For Marching Orders From Saudi Arabia?

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The United States wants to build a coalition of European and Arab partners to deter Iran after an attack on Saudi Arabia that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described on Wednesday (September 18) as "an act of war" against the world's top oil exporter.

WION Dispatch: Saudi Arabia presents proof against Iran

Drone and missile debris recovered by investigators at the Saudi Aramco attack site is proof of Iranian culpability, a Saudi defense ministry representative said.

Saudi minister claims 'Weapon debris proves Iranian role in Aramco attack'

Saudi Arabia has said that strikes on its oil infrastructure were originated from "north" and were "unquestionably" sponsored by Iran.

Riyadh said that the attack was a deliberate attempt to "disrupt" the global economy.

Addressing a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, Spokesperson of Defence Ministry Colonel Al-Malki presented information confirming the Iranian role in the sabotage act which targeted the most important site in the world as it is the most important source of oil production, saying that "since the beginning of the Iranian coup in the region, we have seen a remarkable growth in the Iranian aggression against the Kingdom. This aggression is revealed throughout history."

"I will focus on two main parts of our findings regarding the initial investigations with the partners. First, this attack was not carried out from Yemen as the Houthis claimed. Second, this attack is originated from the north and undoubtedly was supported by Iran. All the evidence, in our presentation before you, leaves no doubt about the Iranian role in the sabotage," he affirmed.

Saudi officials said the missile on display, which had what appeared to be a jet engine attached to it, was a land-attack cruise missile that failed to explode.

Al-Malki said a total of 18 drones and seven missiles were launched, including what he called Iranian Delta Wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reported Al Jazeera.

Riyadh admission that the attack was carried out by Iran came at a time when US Secretary of State is visiting the country.

During his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) and expressed support for the Kingdom's right to defend itself.

The drone attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia was claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran. The attack took place on Saturday escalating tensions in the region.

Iran has denied involvement and warned the United States it would retaliate "immediately" if targeted over the attacks.

"The press conference proved that Saudi Arabia knows nothing about where the missiles and drones were made or launched from, and failed to explain why the country's defence system failed to intercept them," an adviser to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Hesameddin Ashena wrote on Twitter.

Saudi Arabia has said that strikes on its oil infrastructure were originated from "north" and were "unquestionably" sponsored by Iran. Riyadh said that the attack was a deliberate attempt to "disrupt" the global economy.

Saudi Arabia has said that strikes on its oil infrastructure were originated from "north" and were "unquestionably" sponsored by Iran. Riyadh said that the attack was a deliberate attempt to "disrupt" the global economy. Addressing a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, Spokesperson of Defence Ministry Colonel Al-Malki presented information confirming the Iranian role in the sabotage act which targeted the most important site in the world as it is the most important source of oil production, saying that "since the beginning of the Iranian coup in the region, we have seen a remarkable growth in the Iranian aggression against the Kingdom. This aggression is revealed throughout history." "I will focus on two main parts of our findings regarding the initial investigations with the partners. First, this attack was not carried out from Yemen as the Houthis claimed. Second, this attack is originated from the north and undoubtedly was supported by Iran. All the evidence, in our presentation before you, leaves no doubt about the Iranian role in the sabotage," he affirmed. Saudi officials said the missile on display, which had what appeared to be a jet engine attached to it, was a land-attack cruise missile that failed to explode. Al-Malki said a total of 18 drones and seven missiles were launched, including what he called Iranian Delta Wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reported Al Jazeera. Riyadh admission that the attack was carried out by Iran came at a time when US Secretary of State is visiting the country. During his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) and expressed support for the Kingdom's right to defend itself. The drone attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia was claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran. The attack took place on Saturday escalating tensions in the region. Iran has denied involvement and warned the United States it would retaliate "immediately" if targeted over the attacks. "The press conference proved that Saudi Arabia knows nothing about where the missiles and drones were made or launched from, and failed to explain why the country's defence system failed to intercept them," an adviser to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Hesameddin Ashena wrote on Twitter.

Attacks on oil facilities 'unquestionably' sponsored by Iran: Saudi Arabia

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the United States is rushing to retaliate for a brazen, allegedly Iranian attack that severely damaged two of the kingdom’s key oil facilities.

That is not to say that Saudi Arabia or the United States will not retaliate in what could prove to be a game-changer in the geopolitics of the Middle East.

Yet, reading the tea leaves of various US and Saudi statements lifts the veil on the constituent elements that could change the region’s dynamics.

They also shine a spotlight on the pressures on both countries and shifts in the US-Saudi relationship that could have long-lasting consequences.

With US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visiting the kingdom to coordinate what his office described as efforts to combat "Iranian aggression in the region," Saudi Arabia and the United States will be seeking to resolve multiple issues.

These include collecting sufficient evidence to convincingly apportion blame; calibrating a response that would be appropriate but not drag the United States and the Middle East into a war that few want; deciding who takes the lead in any military response and managing the long-term impact of that &nbsp;decision on Saudi-US relations and the US commitment to the region.

A careful reading of Saudi and US responses to the attacks so far suggests subtle differences between the two. They mask fundamental issues that have emerged in the aftermath of the attacks.

For starters, Pompeo and President Donald J Trump have explicitly pointed the finger at Iran as being directly responsible, while Saudi Arabia stopped short of blaming the Islamic republic, saying that its preliminary findings show that Iranian weapons were used in the attack. Iran has denied any involvement.

The discrepancy in the initial apportioning of blame raises the question whether Saudi Arabia is seeking to avoid being manoeuvred into a situation in which it would be forced to take the lead in retaliating against the Islamic republic with strikes against targets in Iran rather than Yemen.

Political scientist Austin Carson suggests that Saudi Arabia may have an interest in at least partially playing along with Iranian insistence that it was not responsible. “Allowing Iran’s role to remain ambiguous could reduce Saudi leaders’ need to appear strong. The Saudis are reportedly unconvinced by shared US intelligence that attempts to link the attacks to Iran’s territory. Some experts suggest this may reflect a more cautious approach to escalation,” Carson wrote in The Washington Post.

Saudi Arabia’s initial reluctance to unambiguously blame Iran may have a lot to do with Trump’s America First-driven response to the attacks that appeared to contradict the Carter Doctrine proclaimed in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter.

The doctrine, a cornerstone of the Saudi-US relationship, stated that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to defend its national interests in the Gulf.

Trump’s apparent weakening of the United States’ commitment to the defence of the kingdom, encapsulated in the doctrine, risks fundamentally altering the relationship, already troubled by Saudi conduct of the more than four-year-long war in Yemen and last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Signalling a break with the Carter doctrine, Trump was quick to point out that the attacks were on Saudi Arabia, not on the United States, and suggested that it was for the Saudis to respond.

“I haven’t promised Saudis that. We have to sit down with the Saudis and work something out. That was an attack on Saudi Arabia, and that wasn’t an attack on us. But we would certainly help them,” Trump said without identifying what kind of support the US would be willing to provide.

Despite blustering that the United States was “locked and loaded,” Trump insisted that “We have a lot of options but I’m not looking at options right now.”

Trump’s response to a tweet by US Senator Lindsey Graham, a friend of the president who favours a US military strike against Iran, that "the measured response by President @realDonaldTrump…was clearly seen by the Iranian regime as a sign of weakness" was equally telling.

"No Lindsey, it was a sign of strength that some people just don't understand," Trump said.

Trump further called into question the nature of the US-Saudi defence relationship by declaring that “If we decide to do something, they’ll be very much involved, and that includes payment. And they understand that fully.”

The Saudi foreign ministry maintained, with the attacks casting doubt on the Saudi military’s ability to defend the kingdom’s oil assets and Trump seemingly putting the onus of a response on Saudi Arabia, that “The kingdom is capable of defending its land and people and responding forcefully to those attacks.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

Only indisputable evidence that the drones were launched from Iranian territory would incontrovertibly point the finger at Iran.

So far, the Saudis have stopped short of that while US officials have suggested that the drones were launched either from Iran or by pro-Iranian militias in southern Iraq.

Holding Iran responsible for the actions of a militia, whether in Iraq or Yemen, could prove more tricky given long-standing questions about the degree of control that Iran has over various groups that it supports, and particularly regarding the Houthis.

The argument could turn out to be a slippery slope given that by the same logic, the United States would be responsible for massive human casualties in the Yemen war resulting from Saudi use of American weaponry.

Military retaliation may not be immediate even if the United States and Saudi Arabia can produce convincing evidence that Iran was directly responsible.

"No knee jerk reactions to this - it's very systematic - what happens with patience is it prevents stupid moves," a US official said.

The United States is likely to attempt to first leverage that evidence in meetings on the sidelines of next week’s United Nations General Assembly to convince the international community, and particularly the Europeans, to drop opposition to last year’s US withdrawal from the international nuclear accord with Iran and the harsh economic sanctions that the Trump administration has since imposed on Iran.

Both the United States and Saudi Arabia will also want to use the opportunity of the UN gathering to try to ensure that the fallout of any military response is limited and does not escalate into a full-fledged war that could change the geopolitical map of the Middle East.

Said foreign policy analyst Steven A Cook: “How the Trump administration responds will indicate whether US elites still consider energy resources a core national interest and whether the United States truly is on its way out of the Middle East entirely, as so many in the region suspect.” 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the United States is rushing to retaliate for a brazen, allegedly Iranian attack that severely damaged two of the kingdom’s key oil facilities.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the United States is rushing to retaliate for a brazen, allegedly Iranian attack that severely damaged two of the kingdom’s key oil facilities. That is not to say that Saudi Arabia or the United States will not retaliate in what could prove to be a game-changer in the geopolitics of the Middle East. Yet, reading the tea leaves of various US and Saudi statements lifts the veil on the constituent elements that could change the region’s dynamics. They also shine a spotlight on the pressures on both countries and shifts in the US-Saudi relationship that could have long-lasting consequences. With US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visiting the kingdom to coordinate what his office described as efforts to combat "Iranian aggression in the region," Saudi Arabia and the United States will be seeking to resolve multiple issues. These include collecting sufficient evidence to convincingly apportion blame; calibrating a response that would be appropriate but not drag the United States and the Middle East into a war that few want; deciding who takes the lead in any military response and managing the long-term impact of that decision on Saudi-US relations and the US commitment to the region. A careful reading of Saudi and US responses to the attacks so far suggests subtle differences between the two. They mask fundamental issues that have emerged in the aftermath of the attacks. For starters, Pompeo and President Donald J Trump have explicitly pointed the finger at Iran as being directly responsible, while Saudi Arabia stopped short of blaming the Islamic republic, saying that its preliminary findings show that Iranian weapons were used in the attack. Iran has denied any involvement. The discrepancy in the initial apportioning of blame raises the question whether Saudi Arabia is seeking to avoid being manoeuvred into a situation in which it would be forced to take the lead in retaliating against the Islamic republic with strikes against targets in Iran rather than Yemen. Political scientist Austin Carson suggests that Saudi Arabia may have an interest in at least partially playing along with Iranian insistence that it was not responsible. “Allowing Iran’s role to remain ambiguous could reduce Saudi leaders’ need to appear strong. The Saudis are reportedly unconvinced by shared US intelligence that attempts to link the attacks to Iran’s territory. Some experts suggest this may reflect a more cautious approach to escalation,” Carson wrote in The Washington Post. Saudi Arabia’s initial reluctance to unambiguously blame Iran may have a lot to do with Trump’s America First-driven response to the attacks that appeared to contradict the Carter Doctrine proclaimed in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. The doctrine, a cornerstone of the Saudi-US relationship, stated that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to defend its national interests in the Gulf. Trump’s apparent weakening of the United States’ commitment to the defence of the kingdom, encapsulated in the doctrine, risks fundamentally altering the relationship, already troubled by Saudi conduct of the more than four-year-long war in Yemen and last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Signalling a break with the Carter doctrine, Trump was quick to point out that the attacks were on Saudi Arabia, not on the United States, and suggested that it was for the Saudis to respond. “I haven’t promised Saudis that. We have to sit down with the Saudis and work something out. That was an attack on Saudi Arabia, and that wasn’t an attack on us. But we would certainly help them,” Trump said without identifying what kind of support the US would be willing to provide. Despite blustering that the United States was “locked and loaded,” Trump insisted that “We have a lot of options but I’m not looking at options right now.” Trump’s response to a tweet by US Senator Lindsey Graham, a friend of the president who favours a US military strike against Iran, that "the measured response by President @realDonaldTrump…was clearly seen by the Iranian regime as a sign of weakness" was equally telling. "No Lindsey, it was a sign of strength that some people just don't understand," Trump said. Trump further called into question the nature of the US-Saudi defence relationship by declaring that “If we decide to do something, they’ll be very much involved, and that includes payment. And they understand that fully.” The Saudi foreign ministry maintained, with the attacks casting doubt on the Saudi military’s ability to defend the kingdom’s oil assets and Trump seemingly putting the onus of a response on Saudi Arabia, that “The kingdom is capable of defending its land and people and responding forcefully to those attacks.” Only indisputable evidence that the drones were launched from Iranian territory would incontrovertibly point the finger at Iran. So far, the Saudis have stopped short of that while US officials have suggested that the drones were launched either from Iran or by pro-Iranian militias in southern Iraq. Holding Iran responsible for the actions of a militia, whether in Iraq or Yemen, could prove more tricky given long-standing questions about the degree of control that Iran has over various groups that it supports, and particularly regarding the Houthis. The argument could turn out to be a slippery slope given that by the same logic, the United States would be responsible for massive human casualties in the Yemen war resulting from Saudi use of American weaponry. Military retaliation may not be immediate even if the United States and Saudi Arabia can produce convincing evidence that Iran was directly responsible. "No knee jerk reactions to this - it's very systematic - what happens with patience is it prevents stupid moves," a US official said. The United States is likely to attempt to first leverage that evidence in meetings on the sidelines of next week’s United Nations General Assembly to convince the international community, and particularly the Europeans, to drop opposition to last year’s US withdrawal from the international nuclear accord with Iran and the harsh economic sanctions that the Trump administration has since imposed on Iran. Both the United States and Saudi Arabia will also want to use the opportunity of the UN gathering to try to ensure that the fallout of any military response is limited and does not escalate into a full-fledged war that could change the geopolitical map of the Middle East. Said foreign policy analyst Steven A Cook: “How the Trump administration responds will indicate whether US elites still consider energy resources a core national interest and whether the United States truly is on its way out of the Middle East entirely, as so many in the region suspect.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Saudi oil attacks put US commitments to the test

Saudi Arabia has joined an international maritime mission to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and other areas, Saudi state media reported on Wednesday, citing an official source in the defence ministry.

Saudi Arabia has joined an international maritime mission to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and other areas, Saudi state media reported on Wednesday, citing an official source in the defence ministry. The operation area for the International Maritime Security Construct covers the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Gulf, the report said. Several international merchant vessels have been attacked in the Gulf this year in incidents that have rocked world commodities trading. Washington blames Iran, which denies the accusation.

Saudi Arabia joins maritime protection mission to protect commercial shipping in Strait of Hormuz: Report

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that strikes on its oil infrastructure came from the "north" and were <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/initial-investigations-show-iranian-weapons-were-used-in-attacks-foreign-ministry-250405">sponsored by Iran</a>, but added the kingdom was still investigating the exact launch site.

"The attack was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran," defence ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki said. "We are working to know the exact launch point."

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement had&nbsp;claimed responsibility for the strikes, but the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition battling the group had said preliminary findings indicated the attack was not launched from Yemen.

Watch Video:

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However, Maliki&nbsp;would not be drawn on whether Saudi Arabia believed Iran would ultimately be found to be the culprit, only saying they were confident they would find where the weapons were fired from.

Maliki displayed pieces of what he said were cruise missiles and drones used in the strike, recovered from the site of Saturday's attack in the country's east.&nbsp;

He said a combination of 18 drones and seven cruise missiles fired at the two key oil installations from a direction that ruled out its southern neighbour Yemen as a source.

The Saudi Arabian spokesman reiterated Riyadh's position that the Iran-backed Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is mired in a five-year conflict, were not responsible for the assault despite claiming it.

"Despite Iran's efforts to make it appear so" they did not originate from Yemen, he said, adding the strike was beyond the capabilities of the militia -- who have however mounted dozens of smaller attacks on Saudi territory.

In addition, "the targeting direction indicates it came from the north," he added.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that strikes on its oil infrastructure came from the "north" and were sponsored by Iran, but added the kingdom was still investigating the exact launch site.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that strikes on its oil infrastructure came from the "north" and were sponsored by Iran, but added the kingdom was still investigating the exact launch site. "The attack was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran," defence ministry spokesman Turki al-Maliki said. "We are working to know the exact launch point." Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement had claimed responsibility for the strikes, but the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition battling the group had said preliminary findings indicated the attack was not launched from Yemen. Watch Video: However, Maliki would not be drawn on whether Saudi Arabia believed Iran would ultimately be found to be the culprit, only saying they were confident they would find where the weapons were fired from. Maliki displayed pieces of what he said were cruise missiles and drones used in the strike, recovered from the site of Saturday's attack in the country's east. He said a combination of 18 drones and seven cruise missiles fired at the two key oil installations from a direction that ruled out its southern neighbour Yemen as a source. The Saudi Arabian spokesman reiterated Riyadh's position that the Iran-backed Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is mired in a five-year conflict, were not responsible for the assault despite claiming it. "Despite Iran's efforts to make it appear so" they did not originate from Yemen, he said, adding the strike was beyond the capabilities of the militia -- who have however mounted dozens of smaller attacks on Saudi territory. In addition, "the targeting direction indicates it came from the north," he added.

Attacks on Aramco oil facility unquestionably sponsored by Iran: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia presents material evidence on Drone attack

Aramco Drone Attack: Saudi Arabia Presents Evidence

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 18th, 2019

Saudi oil supplies are back to the same level as pre-terror attack levels, the Saudi energy minister said on Tuesday night.

Saudi Arabia: Oil supply is back online

Saudi Arabia is involved in several proxy wars in the region and continues to make a mockery of rights.

But even then, countries like the US, which have been directly affected by the terror exports from Saudi, continue to support Saudi Arabia.

The reason is oil and Saudi Arabia has loads of it. Simply put - it's Petro-Islam.

So, how long will Saudi Arabia get a free pass and a pat on the back for being the breeding ground of terrorism?

There is no clear answer because the world runs on oil. On Wion Edit, we discuss the need to find alternatives for oil.

Importers cannot continue to face supply disruption due to the crisis in West Asia.

Countries like India have diversified their oil procurement in an attempt to stay insulated from supply issues. But that's at best - a stop-gap solution.

If you look at the oil producers, with the exception of the US and Russia, most countries are facing turmoil.

Venezuela, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Qatar and now Saudi Arabia. All these countries face threats of terrorism.

And this will only intensify and&nbsp;lead to more disputes over this crucial commodity. Depending on crude, therefore, is an economic risk in the medium to long term.

Several countries are moving towards generating power entirely through renewable energy sources. Countries like Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Nicaragua, Germany are well on course to achieving independence from oil.

That means that these countries need not worry about political disruptions in countries like Saudi Arabia.

Besides&nbsp;this, the transition is cost-effective too.

Over the last few years, India has come a long way in its push for renewable energy. Right now, the share of renewable energy in India is above 20 per cent. The government should continue this transition more aggressively.

This will help India escape the wrath of OPEC cartel.&nbsp;

The sooner&nbsp;countries find alternatives to oil, the better it will be for economic autonomy. Besides, it will help in ending the many conflicts in West Asia.

The only way to end the radical Petro-Islam is to achieve independence from oil. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Saudi Arabia is involved in several proxy wars in the region and continues to make a mockery of rights. But even then, countries like the US, which have been directly affected by the terror exports from Saudi, continue to support Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is involved in several proxy wars in the region and continues to make a mockery of rights. But even then, countries like the US, which have been directly affected by the terror exports from Saudi, continue to support Saudi Arabia. The reason is oil and Saudi Arabia has loads of it. Simply put - it's Petro-Islam. So, how long will Saudi Arabia get a free pass and a pat on the back for being the breeding ground of terrorism? There is no clear answer because the world runs on oil. On Wion Edit, we discuss the need to find alternatives for oil. Importers cannot continue to face supply disruption due to the crisis in West Asia. Countries like India have diversified their oil procurement in an attempt to stay insulated from supply issues. But that's at best - a stop-gap solution. If you look at the oil producers, with the exception of the US and Russia, most countries are facing turmoil. Venezuela, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Qatar and now Saudi Arabia. All these countries face threats of terrorism. And this will only intensify and lead to more disputes over this crucial commodity. Depending on crude, therefore, is an economic risk in the medium to long term. Several countries are moving towards generating power entirely through renewable energy sources. Countries like Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Nicaragua, Germany are well on course to achieving independence from oil. That means that these countries need not worry about political disruptions in countries like Saudi Arabia. Besides this, the transition is cost-effective too. Over the last few years, India has come a long way in its push for renewable energy. Right now, the share of renewable energy in India is above 20 per cent. The government should continue this transition more aggressively. This will help India escape the wrath of OPEC cartel. The sooner countries find alternatives to oil, the better it will be for economic autonomy. Besides, it will help in ending the many conflicts in West Asia. The only way to end the radical Petro-Islam is to achieve independence from oil. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

WION Edit: Achieving independence from oil

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday&nbsp;that the attack on its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-aramco-pursues-ipo-planning-despite-attack-damage-doubts-250228">oil facilities </a>was carried out with Iranian weapons, according to a preliminary investigation, but stopped short of directly blaming regional foe Iran.

A foreign ministry statement said Riyadh would invite international experts, including from the United Nations, to participate in investigating Saturday's assault, which cut almost half of Saudi Arabia's oil production.

The United States, which has blamed Iran for the strikes, is studying all available options in addressing the assault, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call on Monday, Saudi state media said.

"Initial investigations show that Iranian weapons were used in the attacks and work is going on to determine the source of those attacks," the foreign ministry statement said.

"The kingdom is capable of defending its land and people and responding forcefully to those attacks," it added.

Watch: Yemen's Houthis say Saudi Aramco's oil processing plants still a target

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Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for the strikes, but the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition battling the group said preliminary findings indicated the attack was not launched from Yemen.

Tehran has dismissed the US accusations as "unacceptable" and said it was ready for a "full-fledged war."

Riyadh called on the world to condemn those behind the attack on the world's top oil exporter, a key regional US ally which has supported US President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Shi'ite Muslim Iran.

Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, told Esper that Iranian threats "are not only directed to the kingdom but affect the Middle East and the world," news agency SPA said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who also called the crown prince on Monday, offered his country's "full support and capabilities" to the Gulf Arab state, it added.

The Wall Street Journal reported that US officials had said intelligence indicated Iran was the "staging ground" for the attack and had shared the information with Riyadh. It quoted people familiar with the discussions.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki told reporters in Riyadh earlier on Monday that authorities were still determining the launch location.

"The terrorist attack did not originate from Yemen as the Houthi militia claimed," he said, adding that authorities would reveal the location from where drones were launched at a future news conference.

The Saudi-led coalition of Sunni Muslim countries intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the Houthis, who ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital Sanaa, to prevent Iran from gaining influence through the group.

The movement, which denies being a puppet of Tehran and says it is fighting a corrupt system, recently stepped up drone and missile attacks on Saudi cities. The conflict is largely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that the attack on its oil facilities was carried out with Iranian weapons, according to a preliminary investigation, but stopped short of directly blaming regional foe Iran.

Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that the attack on its oil facilities was carried out with Iranian weapons, according to a preliminary investigation, but stopped short of directly blaming regional foe Iran. A foreign ministry statement said Riyadh would invite international experts, including from the United Nations, to participate in investigating Saturday's assault, which cut almost half of Saudi Arabia's oil production. The United States, which has blamed Iran for the strikes, is studying all available options in addressing the assault, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call on Monday, Saudi state media said. "Initial investigations show that Iranian weapons were used in the attacks and work is going on to determine the source of those attacks," the foreign ministry statement said. "The kingdom is capable of defending its land and people and responding forcefully to those attacks," it added. Watch: Yemen's Houthis say Saudi Aramco's oil processing plants still a target × Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for the strikes, but the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition battling the group said preliminary findings indicated the attack was not launched from Yemen. Tehran has dismissed the US accusations as "unacceptable" and said it was ready for a "full-fledged war." Riyadh called on the world to condemn those behind the attack on the world's top oil exporter, a key regional US ally which has supported US President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Shi'ite Muslim Iran. Prince Mohammed, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, told Esper that Iranian threats "are not only directed to the kingdom but affect the Middle East and the world," news agency SPA said. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who also called the crown prince on Monday, offered his country's "full support and capabilities" to the Gulf Arab state, it added. The Wall Street Journal reported that US officials had said intelligence indicated Iran was the "staging ground" for the attack and had shared the information with Riyadh. It quoted people familiar with the discussions. Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki told reporters in Riyadh earlier on Monday that authorities were still determining the launch location. "The terrorist attack did not originate from Yemen as the Houthi militia claimed," he said, adding that authorities would reveal the location from where drones were launched at a future news conference. The Saudi-led coalition of Sunni Muslim countries intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the Houthis, who ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital Sanaa, to prevent Iran from gaining influence through the group. The movement, which denies being a puppet of Tehran and says it is fighting a corrupt system, recently stepped up drone and missile attacks on Saudi cities. The conflict is largely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Initial investigations show Iranian weapons used in Aramco attacks: Saudi foreign ministry

Two major oil installations in Saudi Arabia hit by drone strikes.

Gravitas: Drone attacks cripple Saudi oil supply?

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 17th, 2019

For a developing country like India, oil is the lifeline. So will the decision to stop buying Iranian oil hurt India?

On WION Edit, let's look at what this development means for India's policymaking.

One, India did not dump Iran just like that, Saudi Arabia had assured India of steady oil supply before the government decided to stop relying on Iranian crude.

Two, India has found other countries to buy crude oil from. The US itself is just one of the many countries India buys oil from. Crude imports from Nigeria as well as UAE have increased significantly in the last year.

So, is this a test of strategic autonomy?

It is. India has chosen to diversify its partners. This was aimed at achieving autonomy.

Watch: Saudi Aramco oil attacks: Impact on Indian economy

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While some critics view the decision to side with the US as a mistake, it's important to remember that the Narendra Modi government had a few alternative choices.

The crude-exporting countries look at their profit margins and that impacts importers like India. That's why India chose to increase its imports from the US.

The tensions between the US And Iran did not help matters too. It would have been difficult for New Delhi to transact with Tehran and Washington simultaneously.

While India views its bilateral relationships with other countries independent of the regional conflicts in West Asia, New Delhi cannot afford to jeopardise ties with the US.

So will this decision prove right or will it land the economy in trouble?&nbsp;

If the remarks of the Oil Minister is anything to go by, India will not be affected in the immediate future.

But if tensions escalate, the Indian government would be forced to increase imports from other countries.&nbsp;

And that's where the US could come in handy.&nbsp;

But the timing of the drone strikes is a cause for concern. Global oil prices surged the most on record after a drone strike on a Saudi Arabian oil facility removed about 5 per cent of global supplies.

The whole global economy is going through a rough phase. India is also seeing the repercussions. A significant rise in crude oil prices may exacerbate the pain on the supply side as well.

New Delhi will need to watch out for the developments over the next few weeks and take immediate measures to compensate for any supply shortage.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

For a developing country like India, oil is the lifeline. So will the decision to stop buying Iranian oil hurt India? On WION Edit, let's look at what this development means for India's policymaking.

For a developing country like India, oil is the lifeline. So will the decision to stop buying Iranian oil hurt India? On WION Edit, let's look at what this development means for India's policymaking. One, India did not dump Iran just like that, Saudi Arabia had assured India of steady oil supply before the government decided to stop relying on Iranian crude. Two, India has found other countries to buy crude oil from. The US itself is just one of the many countries India buys oil from. Crude imports from Nigeria as well as UAE have increased significantly in the last year. So, is this a test of strategic autonomy? It is. India has chosen to diversify its partners. This was aimed at achieving autonomy. Watch: Saudi Aramco oil attacks: Impact on Indian economy × While some critics view the decision to side with the US as a mistake, it's important to remember that the Narendra Modi government had a few alternative choices. The crude-exporting countries look at their profit margins and that impacts importers like India. That's why India chose to increase its imports from the US. The tensions between the US And Iran did not help matters too. It would have been difficult for New Delhi to transact with Tehran and Washington simultaneously. While India views its bilateral relationships with other countries independent of the regional conflicts in West Asia, New Delhi cannot afford to jeopardise ties with the US. So will this decision prove right or will it land the economy in trouble? If the remarks of the Oil Minister is anything to go by, India will not be affected in the immediate future. But if tensions escalate, the Indian government would be forced to increase imports from other countries. And that's where the US could come in handy. But the timing of the drone strikes is a cause for concern. Global oil prices surged the most on record after a drone strike on a Saudi Arabian oil facility removed about 5 per cent of global supplies. The whole global economy is going through a rough phase. India is also seeing the repercussions. A significant rise in crude oil prices may exacerbate the pain on the supply side as well. New Delhi will need to watch out for the developments over the next few weeks and take immediate measures to compensate for any supply shortage. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

WION Edit: Oil's not well

Britain and Germany on Tuesday urged the international community to forge a "collective response" to the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil installations, which US officials <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-aramco-trading-arm-wants-refined-products-after-attacks-sources-250148">have blamed on Iran</a>.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the attacks during a telephone conversation, agreeing on "the need to work together, alongside international partners, to agree a collective response," according to Downing Street.

The weekend<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-falls-more-than-1-per-cent-as-market-awaits-response-to-saudi-oil-attacks-250122"> strikes on Abqaiq</a> -- the world's largest processing plant -- and the Khurais oilfield have knocked out 5.7 million barrels per day (bpd), or six per cent of global production, sending prices soaring.

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Washington has blamed Tehran, and President Donald Trump has said that the United States is ready to help Saudi Arabia, but will wait for a "definitive" determination on who was responsible.

Johnson and Merkel stressed the "importance of avoiding the further escalation of tensions in the region".

The weekend attacks have spiked tensions and prompted concerns about an escalation. Conflict in the Gulf region could put a large portion of global energy supplies at risk.

Britain and Germany on Tuesday urged the international community to forge a "collective response" to the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil installations, which US officials have blamed on Iran.

Britain and Germany on Tuesday urged the international community to forge a "collective response" to the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil installations, which US officials have blamed on Iran. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the attacks during a telephone conversation, agreeing on "the need to work together, alongside international partners, to agree a collective response," according to Downing Street. The weekend strikes on Abqaiq -- the world's largest processing plant -- and the Khurais oilfield have knocked out 5.7 million barrels per day (bpd), or six per cent of global production, sending prices soaring. Washington has blamed Tehran, and President Donald Trump has said that the United States is ready to help Saudi Arabia, but will wait for a "definitive" determination on who was responsible. Johnson and Merkel stressed the "importance of avoiding the further escalation of tensions in the region". The weekend attacks have spiked tensions and prompted concerns about an escalation. Conflict in the Gulf region could put a large portion of global energy supplies at risk.

Need to agree on collective response to Saudi Arabia's oil facility attack, say UK, Germany

Watch in WION Dispatch: Russia says It's ready to help Saudi.

WION Dispatch: Russia says It's ready to help Saudi

US President Donald Trump said on Monday said it looked like Iran was behind attacks on oil plants in Saudi Arabia but stressed he did not want to go to war, as the attacks sent oil prices soaring and raised fears of a new Middle East conflict.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday said it looked like Iran was behind attacks on oil plants in Saudi Arabia but stressed he did not want to go to war, as the attacks sent oil prices soaring and raised fears of a new Middle East conflict. Iran has rejected US charges it was behind the strikes on Saturday that damaged the world's biggest crude-processing plant and triggered the largest jump in crude prices in decades. Relations between the United States and Iran have deteriorated since Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear accord last year and reimposed sanctions over Tehran's nuclear and ballistic programs. Washington also wants to pressure Tehran to end its support of regional proxy forces, including in Yemen where Saudi forces have been fighting Iran-backed Houthis for four years. The United States was still investigating if Iran was behind the Saudi strikes, Trump said, but "it's certainly looking that way at this moment." Trump, who has spent much of his presidency trying to disentangle the United States from wars he inherited, made clear, however, he was not going to rush into a new conflict on behalf of Saudi Arabia. "I'm somebody that would like not to have war," Trump said. Several US Cabinet members, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Energy Secretary Rick Perry, have blamed Tehran for the strikes. Pompeo and others will travel to Saudi Arabia soon, Trump said. A day after saying the United States was "locked and loaded" to respond to the incident, Trump said on Monday there was "no rush" to do so. "We have a lot of options but I'm not looking at options right now. We want to find definitively who did this," he said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the strikes were carried out by "Yemeni people" retaliating for attacks by a Saudi-led military coalition in a war with the Houthi movement. "Yemeni people are exercising their legitimate right of defence," Rouhani told reporters during a visit to Ankara. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi called the allegations "unacceptable and entirely baseless." The attacks cut 5% of world crude oil production. Oil prices surged by as much as 19% after the incidents but later came off their peaks. The intraday jump was the biggest since the 1990-91 Gulf crisis over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The market eased from its peak after Trump said he would release U.S. emergency supplies and producers said there were enough stocks stored up worldwide to make up for the shortfall. Prices were around 12% higher by afternoon in the United States.

US President Trump says he does not want war after attack on Saudi oil facilities

US President Donald Trump argued that the US doesn't need oil and gas from the Middle East.

Trump says U.S. does not need Middle East oil

U.S. President Donald Trump on September 16 said it looked like Iran was behind attacks on oil plants in Saudi Arabia at the weekend that raised fears of a fresh Middle East conflict, but added that he did not want war with anyone. Watch this video to know more.

Donald Trump says, ''Don't want a war with anyone'' over attacks on Saudi Arabia oil plants

History Of Saudi Arabia-Iran Conflict. Watch video to know more.

History of Saudi Arabia-Iran conflict

Russia is ready to help Saudi Arabia following attacks on the Saudi oil industry if needed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with leaders of Turkey and Iran in Ankara on Monday, and proposed Russian weapons for purchase.

Putin mocks US defence systems, Says 'Saudis Should Buy Russian Missiles'

Equity indices were on a weak note during early hours on Monday as global oil prices surged to a four-month high after a strike on the world`s biggest oil facility in Saudi Arabia removed about 5 per cent of global supplies.

At 10:15 am, the BSE S&amp;P Sensex was down by 175 points at 37,210 while the Nifty 50 edged lower by 51 points to 11,025.

At the National Stock Exchange, sectoral indices were mixed with Nifty auto, financial service, media, metal, bank and realty in the negative zone. Nifty FMCG, IT and pharma showed marginal gains.&nbsp;

Among stocks, oil processing and marketing firms suffered the most as the United States blamed Iran for the weekend attack on Saudi Arabia`s crude oil facilities.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation dropped by 6.1 per cent to trade at Rs 383.50 per share while IndiaOil Corporation was down by 3.3 per cent to Rs 125.80 apiece.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries slipped by 2.2 per cent.

The other prominent losers were Tata Motors, Mahindra &amp; Mahindra, Yes Bank, State Bank of India, Bharti Infratel and Asian Paints.

However, those which traded in the green were Indiabulls Housing Finance, ONGC, GAIL, Sun Pharma and Dr Reddy.

Meanwhile, moves in Asian share markets were small with Japan shut for a public holiday.&nbsp;

MSCI`s broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan was a notch lower at 515.4 while South Korea`s KOSPI was a tad higher by 0.4 per cent. Hong Kong`s Hang Seng was down by 1 per cent.&nbsp;

Equity indices were on a weak note during early hours on Monday as global oil prices surged to a four-month high after a strike on the world`s biggest oil facility in Saudi Arabia removed about 5 per cent of global supplies.

Equity indices were on a weak note during early hours on Monday as global oil prices surged to a four-month high after a strike on the world`s biggest oil facility in Saudi Arabia removed about 5 per cent of global supplies. At 10:15 am, the BSE S&P Sensex was down by 175 points at 37,210 while the Nifty 50 edged lower by 51 points to 11,025. At the National Stock Exchange, sectoral indices were mixed with Nifty auto, financial service, media, metal, bank and realty in the negative zone. Nifty FMCG, IT and pharma showed marginal gains. Among stocks, oil processing and marketing firms suffered the most as the United States blamed Iran for the weekend attack on Saudi Arabia`s crude oil facilities. Bharat Petroleum Corporation dropped by 6.1 per cent to trade at Rs 383.50 per share while IndiaOil Corporation was down by 3.3 per cent to Rs 125.80 apiece. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries slipped by 2.2 per cent. The other prominent losers were Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Yes Bank, State Bank of India, Bharti Infratel and Asian Paints. However, those which traded in the green were Indiabulls Housing Finance, ONGC, GAIL, Sun Pharma and Dr Reddy. Meanwhile, moves in Asian share markets were small with Japan shut for a public holiday. MSCI`s broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan was a notch lower at 515.4 while South Korea`s KOSPI was a tad higher by 0.4 per cent. Hong Kong`s Hang Seng was down by 1 per cent.

Sensex and Nifty slip, oil firms under pressure after Saudi attack

Oil prices surged more than 10 per cent Monday after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-races-to-restore-oil-supply-after-strike-blamed-on-iran-249851">attacks on two Saudi Arabian plants that slashed output</a> in the world's top producer by half, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-dismisses-us-claim-it-was-behind-saudi-oil-attacks-says-ready-for-war-249810">Donald Trump blaming Iran </a>and raising the possibility of a military strike on the country.

West Texas Intermediate jumped 10.68 per cent to $60.71 and Brent climbed 11.77 per cent to $67.31 in early Asia trading following the blasts at facilities run by state-owned giant Aramco.

The attack by Tehran-backed Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is bogged down in a five-year war, effectively shut down six per cent of the global oil supply.

Brent soared almost 20 per cent at one point on Monday, while WTI surged around 15 per cent before paring the gains.

Trump said Sunday the US was "locked and loaded" to respond to the attack, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said,&nbsp;"The United States will work with our partners and allies to ensure that energy markets remain well supplied and Iran is held accountable for its aggression."

Tehran denies the accusations but the news has revived fears of a conflict in the tinderbox Middle East after a series of attacks on oil tankers earlier this year that were also blamed on Iran.

"Tensions in the Middle East are rising quickly, meaning this story will continue to reverberate this week even after the knee-jerk panic in oil markets this morning," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA.

Oil prices surged more than 10 per cent Monday after attacks on two Saudi Arabian plants that slashed output in the world's top producer by half, with Donald Trump blaming Iran and raising the possibility of a military strike on the country.

Oil prices surged more than 10 per cent Monday after attacks on two Saudi Arabian plants that slashed output in the world's top producer by half, with Donald Trump blaming Iran and raising the possibility of a military strike on the country. West Texas Intermediate jumped 10.68 per cent to $60.71 and Brent climbed 11.77 per cent to $67.31 in early Asia trading following the blasts at facilities run by state-owned giant Aramco. The attack by Tehran-backed Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is bogged down in a five-year war, effectively shut down six per cent of the global oil supply. Brent soared almost 20 per cent at one point on Monday, while WTI surged around 15 per cent before paring the gains. Trump said Sunday the US was "locked and loaded" to respond to the attack, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "The United States will work with our partners and allies to ensure that energy markets remain well supplied and Iran is held accountable for its aggression." Tehran denies the accusations but the news has revived fears of a conflict in the tinderbox Middle East after a series of attacks on oil tankers earlier this year that were also blamed on Iran. "Tensions in the Middle East are rising quickly, meaning this story will continue to reverberate this week even after the knee-jerk panic in oil markets this morning," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA.

Oil prices soar more than 10% after attacks on two Saudi plants

Oil prices surged nearly 20 per cent at one point on Monday, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/dollar-falls-oil-exporter-currencies-rise-after-saudi-attacks-yen-firms-249915">Brent crude posting</a> its biggest intraday gain since the Gulf War in 1991, after an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities at the weekend halved the kingdom's production.

Prices came off their peaks after US&nbsp;President Donald Trump authorised the use of his country's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-prices-soar-more-than-10-after-saudi-plant-attacks-249877">emergency stockpile</a> to ensure stable supply.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, rose as much as 19.5 per cent&nbsp;to $71.95 per barrel, the biggest intraday jump since January,&nbsp;14, 1991. By 0940 GMT, the contract was at $65.77, up $5.55 or 8.4 per cent.

Watch Video:
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US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures climbed as much as 15.5 per cent&nbsp;to $63.34, the biggest intraday percentage gain since June 22, 1998. The contract was later at $59.54, up $4.69 or 7.88 per cent.

&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil exporter and the attack on state-owned producer Saudi Aramco's crude-processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais has cut output by 5.7 million barrels per day. The company has not given a timeline for the resumption of full output.

Two sources briefed on Aramco's operations said a full return to normal production volumes "may take months".

"To take out over 5 per cent&nbsp;of global supply in a single strike - a volume exceeding cumulative non-OPEC supply growth over 2014-2018 - is highly worrying," UBS analysts said in a note.

"The departure of US&nbsp;National Security Advisor John Bolton last week was interpreted by many as a reduction in political risk - this event may be significant magnitudes more consequential."

Trump said he had approved the release of oil from the US&nbsp;Strategic Petroleum Reserve if needed in a quantity to be determined.

Trump also said the United States was "locked and loaded" for a potential response to the attack.

Major importers of Saudi crude, such as India, China and Indonesia, will be the most vulnerable to the supply disruption.

Saudi oil exports will continue as normal this week as the kingdom taps into stocks from its large storage facilities, an industry source briefed on the developments told Reuters.

South Korea said it would consider releasing oil from its strategic reserves if circumstances worsened in the wake of Saturday's attacks.

The attack on plants in the heartland of Saudi Arabia's oil industry, including the world's biggest petroleum-processing facility at Abqaiq, came from the direction of Iran, and cruise missiles may have been used, a US&nbsp;official said.

"Growing fears of a supply squeeze and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East will add a risk premium for oil prices," said Benjamin Lu, analyst at Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures.

Saudi Arabia is set to become a significant buyer of refined products after the attacks, consultancy Energy Aspects said.

Saudi Aramco is likely to buy significant quantities of gasoline, diesel and possibly fuel oil while cutting liquefied petroleum gas exports.

US&nbsp;gasoline futures rose as much as 12.9 per cent, while US&nbsp;heating oil futures gained 10.8 per cent. China's Shanghai crude futures rose to their trading limit gaining 8 per cent at the open.

&nbsp;

Oil prices surged nearly 20 per cent at one point on Monday, with Brent crude posting its biggest intraday gain since the Gulf War in 1991, after an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities at the weekend halved the kingdom's production.

Oil prices surged nearly 20 per cent at one point on Monday, with Brent crude posting its biggest intraday gain since the Gulf War in 1991, after an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities at the weekend halved the kingdom's production. Prices came off their peaks after US President Donald Trump authorised the use of his country's emergency stockpile to ensure stable supply. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, rose as much as 19.5 per cent to $71.95 per barrel, the biggest intraday jump since January, 14, 1991. By 0940 GMT, the contract was at $65.77, up $5.55 or 8.4 per cent. Watch Video: US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures climbed as much as 15.5 per cent to $63.34, the biggest intraday percentage gain since June 22, 1998. The contract was later at $59.54, up $4.69 or 7.88 per cent. Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil exporter and the attack on state-owned producer Saudi Aramco's crude-processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais has cut output by 5.7 million barrels per day. The company has not given a timeline for the resumption of full output. Two sources briefed on Aramco's operations said a full return to normal production volumes "may take months". "To take out over 5 per cent of global supply in a single strike - a volume exceeding cumulative non-OPEC supply growth over 2014-2018 - is highly worrying," UBS analysts said in a note. "The departure of US National Security Advisor John Bolton last week was interpreted by many as a reduction in political risk - this event may be significant magnitudes more consequential." Trump said he had approved the release of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve if needed in a quantity to be determined. Trump also said the United States was "locked and loaded" for a potential response to the attack. Major importers of Saudi crude, such as India, China and Indonesia, will be the most vulnerable to the supply disruption. Saudi oil exports will continue as normal this week as the kingdom taps into stocks from its large storage facilities, an industry source briefed on the developments told Reuters. South Korea said it would consider releasing oil from its strategic reserves if circumstances worsened in the wake of Saturday's attacks. The attack on plants in the heartland of Saudi Arabia's oil industry, including the world's biggest petroleum-processing facility at Abqaiq, came from the direction of Iran, and cruise missiles may have been used, a US official said. "Growing fears of a supply squeeze and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East will add a risk premium for oil prices," said Benjamin Lu, analyst at Singapore-based brokerage Phillip Futures. Saudi Arabia is set to become a significant buyer of refined products after the attacks, consultancy Energy Aspects said. Saudi Aramco is likely to buy significant quantities of gasoline, diesel and possibly fuel oil while cutting liquefied petroleum gas exports. US gasoline futures rose as much as 12.9 per cent, while US heating oil futures gained 10.8 per cent. China's Shanghai crude futures rose to their trading limit gaining 8 per cent at the open.

International oil prices surge nearly 20% after attack on Saudi oil facilities

China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was irresponsible to blame anyone for the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities without conclusive facts. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, added that China hoped all parties would exercise self-restraint.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was irresponsible to blame anyone for the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities without conclusive facts. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, added that China hoped all parties would exercise self-restraint. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was no evidence the attack came from Yemen. A senior US official told reporters that evidence from the attack, which hit the world's biggest oil-processing facility, indicated Iran was behind it. Iran has denied this.

China says can't apportion blame for Saudi attack without facts

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday accused Iran of leading <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drones-hit-saudi-aramco-plants-disrupting-oil-flow-249716">attacks on Saudi oil plants</a> that have cut the kingdom's output roughly in half, as he ruled out Yemeni involvement and denounced Tehran for engaging in false diplomacy.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed credit for the attacks on two plants at the heart of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-is-ready-to-help-protect-saudi-security-trump-tells-saudi-leader-249721">Saudi Arabia's oil industry</a>, including the world's biggest petroleum processing facility.

Pompeo, however, said on Twitter that there was no evidence the attacks came from Yemen.

"Tehran is behind nearly 100 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/drone-attack-at-saudi-arabias-oil-refinery-massive-fire-broke-out-249565">attacks on Saudi Arabia</a> while Rouhani and Zarif pretend to engage in diplomacy," Pompeo said, referring to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif.

"Amid all the calls for de-escalation, Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world's energy supply," he added. The State Department declined to provide any evidence to bolster Pompeo's claim.

"We call on all nations to publicly and unequivocally condemn Iran’s attacks," Pompeo said, warning that the Trump administration would work with its allies to make sure Iran was "held accountable for its aggression."

The tweets signaled a more hawkish stance in Washington towards Tehran, following signs of a possible thaw in relations between the two nations after months of escalation.

Last year, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 pact that aimed to keep a lid on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and he has imposed a series of sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

But in recent weeks, Trump has said he would be open to meeting with Rouhani, perhaps on the sidelines of the United National General Assembly in New York later this month. Pompeo has said such talks could take place without any preconditions.

Rouhani, for his part, has said that Tehran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, would not talk to the United States until Washington lifts the sanctions.

Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, a close Trump ally and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Saturday's attacks showed Iran was not interested in peace and was instead pursuing nuclear weapons and regional dominance.

"It is now time for the US&nbsp;to put on the table an attack on Iranian oil refineries if they continue their provocations or increase nuclear enrichment," Graham said on Twitter.

Others cast doubt on Pompeo's allegations.

"This is such irresponsible simplification and it's how we get into dumb wars," Democratic Senator and committee member Chris Murphy tweeted. "Iran is backing the Houthis and has been a bad actor, but it's just not as simple as Houthis=Iran."

Washington's allies overseas will want to see solid evidence of Iran's involvement, said Suzanne Maloney, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington.

"It's credible that the Iranians had something to do with this," said Maloney. "We'll have to wait and see how they'll (the administration) marshal the evidence."

Saturday's attacks follow earlier cross-border attacks on Saudi oil installations and on oil tankers in Gulf waters.

Saudi Arabia, which leads a Sunni Muslim coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 against the Houthis, has blamed regional rival Shi'ite Iran for previous attacks. Tehran has denied the allegations. Riyadh also accuses Iran of arming the Houthis, a charge denied both by the group and Tehran.

The White House said the United States was committed to keeping oil markets well-supplied in the wake of the attack and the US&nbsp;Energy Department said the administration could release oil from strategic reserves if necessary.

The attacks on the two facilities cut Saudi Arabia's crude oil supply by around 5.7 million barrels per day or about 50 per cent of its output.

&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday accused Iran of leading attacks on Saudi oil plants that have cut the kingdom's output roughly in half, as he ruled out Yemeni involvement and denounced Tehran for engaging in false diplomacy.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday accused Iran of leading attacks on Saudi oil plants that have cut the kingdom's output roughly in half, as he ruled out Yemeni involvement and denounced Tehran for engaging in false diplomacy. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed credit for the attacks on two plants at the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry, including the world's biggest petroleum processing facility. Pompeo, however, said on Twitter that there was no evidence the attacks came from Yemen. "Tehran is behind nearly 100 attacks on Saudi Arabia while Rouhani and Zarif pretend to engage in diplomacy," Pompeo said, referring to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif. "Amid all the calls for de-escalation, Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world's energy supply," he added. The State Department declined to provide any evidence to bolster Pompeo's claim. "We call on all nations to publicly and unequivocally condemn Iran’s attacks," Pompeo said, warning that the Trump administration would work with its allies to make sure Iran was "held accountable for its aggression." The tweets signaled a more hawkish stance in Washington towards Tehran, following signs of a possible thaw in relations between the two nations after months of escalation. Last year, US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 pact that aimed to keep a lid on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and he has imposed a series of sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. But in recent weeks, Trump has said he would be open to meeting with Rouhani, perhaps on the sidelines of the United National General Assembly in New York later this month. Pompeo has said such talks could take place without any preconditions. Rouhani, for his part, has said that Tehran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, would not talk to the United States until Washington lifts the sanctions. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, a close Trump ally and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Saturday's attacks showed Iran was not interested in peace and was instead pursuing nuclear weapons and regional dominance. "It is now time for the US to put on the table an attack on Iranian oil refineries if they continue their provocations or increase nuclear enrichment," Graham said on Twitter. Others cast doubt on Pompeo's allegations. "This is such irresponsible simplification and it's how we get into dumb wars," Democratic Senator and committee member Chris Murphy tweeted. "Iran is backing the Houthis and has been a bad actor, but it's just not as simple as Houthis=Iran." Washington's allies overseas will want to see solid evidence of Iran's involvement, said Suzanne Maloney, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington. "It's credible that the Iranians had something to do with this," said Maloney. "We'll have to wait and see how they'll (the administration) marshal the evidence." Saturday's attacks follow earlier cross-border attacks on Saudi oil installations and on oil tankers in Gulf waters. Saudi Arabia, which leads a Sunni Muslim coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 against the Houthis, has blamed regional rival Shi'ite Iran for previous attacks. Tehran has denied the allegations. Riyadh also accuses Iran of arming the Houthis, a charge denied both by the group and Tehran. The White House said the United States was committed to keeping oil markets well-supplied in the wake of the attack and the US Energy Department said the administration could release oil from strategic reserves if necessary. The attacks on the two facilities cut Saudi Arabia's crude oil supply by around 5.7 million barrels per day or about 50 per cent of its output.

United States blames Iran for Saudi attacks, 'pretend' diplomacy

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump told <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drones-hit-saudi-aramco-plants-disrupting-oil-flow-249716">Saudi Arabia</a>'s crown prince that Washington was ready to cooperate with the kingdom to protect its security, following drone attacks on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/drone-attack-at-saudi-arabias-oil-refinery-massive-fire-broke-out-249565">Saudi oil plants</a> on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported.

Trump also told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a call that assaults on Saudi oil facilities had a negative impact on the US&nbsp;and global economies, SPA said in an Arabic-language statement.

The White House said on Saturday that the United States was committed to keeping oil markets well-supplied in the wake of an attack on Saudi Arabian oil plants by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group.

"The United States strongly condemns today's attack on critical energy infrastructure," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement. "Violent actions against civilian areas and infrastructure vital to the global economy only deepen conflict and mistrust."

Deere confirmed that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump had spoken earlier on Saturday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia's oil production and exports have been disrupted, said three sources familiar with the matter, after drone attacks on two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/saudi-arabia-says-drones-attacked-oil-facilities-249652">Aramco plants on Saturday</a>, including the world's biggest oil processing facility.

One of the sources said the attacks have impacted 5 million barrels per day of oil production -- almost half the kingdom's current output. The source did not elaborate.

Saudi Aramco operates the world's largest oil processing facility and crude oil stabilisation plant in the world at Abqaiq, in eastern Saudi Arabia. The plant has a crude oil processing capacity of more than 7 million barrels per day.

US President Donald Trump told Saudi Arabia's crown prince that Washington was ready to cooperate with the kingdom to protect its security, following drone attacks on Saudi oil plants on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported.

US President Donald Trump told Saudi Arabia's crown prince that Washington was ready to cooperate with the kingdom to protect its security, following drone attacks on Saudi oil plants on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported. Trump also told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a call that assaults on Saudi oil facilities had a negative impact on the US and global economies, SPA said in an Arabic-language statement. The White House said on Saturday that the United States was committed to keeping oil markets well-supplied in the wake of an attack on Saudi Arabian oil plants by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group. "The United States strongly condemns today's attack on critical energy infrastructure," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement. "Violent actions against civilian areas and infrastructure vital to the global economy only deepen conflict and mistrust." Deere confirmed that US President Donald Trump had spoken earlier on Saturday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia's oil production and exports have been disrupted, said three sources familiar with the matter, after drone attacks on two Aramco plants on Saturday, including the world's biggest oil processing facility. One of the sources said the attacks have impacted 5 million barrels per day of oil production -- almost half the kingdom's current output. The source did not elaborate. Saudi Aramco operates the world's largest oil processing facility and crude oil stabilisation plant in the world at Abqaiq, in eastern Saudi Arabia. The plant has a crude oil processing capacity of more than 7 million barrels per day.

US is ready to help protect Saudi security: Trump tells Crown Prince

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/saudi-arabia-says-drones-attacked-oil-facilities-249652">Saudi Arabia</a> has temporarily halted production at two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/drone-attack-at-saudi-arabias-oil-refinery-massive-fire-broke-out-249565">Aramco oil facilities </a>that were attacked by Yemeni rebels, interrupting about half of the company's total output, the energy minister said Saturday.

The attacks "resulted in a temporary suspension of production at Abqaiq and Khurais plants," Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the energy minister said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

It led to the interruption of about 50 per cent of total production, he added.

"These attacks resulted in production suspension of 5.7 million barrels of crude oil per day," the state-owned Aramco said in a separate statement.

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said work was underway to restore production and a progress update would be provided in the next two days.

The Huthi rebel drone attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais, two key Aramco facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, are the latest in a series of raids on the kingdom's oil installations in recent months.

Nasser said "no injuries" were reported in the attacks.

The Iran-linked Huthi rebels said they launched "a large-scale operation involving 10 drones" on the facilities, the group's Al-Masirah television reported.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the strikes.

"Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world's energy supply," Pompeo said.

Saudi Arabia, a key ally of Washington, has repeatedly accused Iran of supplying arms to the rebels. Tehran denies the charge.

Growing rebel attacks underscore how Saudi infrastructure, including oil installations, are increasingly vulnerable to the Huthis' steadily advancing weaponry -- from ballistic missiles to unmanned drones.

Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted production at two Aramco oil facilities that were attacked by Yemeni rebels, interrupting about half of the company's total output, the energy minister said Saturday.

Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted production at two Aramco oil facilities that were attacked by Yemeni rebels, interrupting about half of the company's total output, the energy minister said Saturday. The attacks "resulted in a temporary suspension of production at Abqaiq and Khurais plants," Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the energy minister said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. It led to the interruption of about 50 per cent of total production, he added. "These attacks resulted in production suspension of 5.7 million barrels of crude oil per day," the state-owned Aramco said in a separate statement. Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said work was underway to restore production and a progress update would be provided in the next two days. The Huthi rebel drone attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais, two key Aramco facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, are the latest in a series of raids on the kingdom's oil installations in recent months. Nasser said "no injuries" were reported in the attacks. The Iran-linked Huthi rebels said they launched "a large-scale operation involving 10 drones" on the facilities, the group's Al-Masirah television reported. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the strikes. "Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world's energy supply," Pompeo said. Saudi Arabia, a key ally of Washington, has repeatedly accused Iran of supplying arms to the rebels. Tehran denies the charge. Growing rebel attacks underscore how Saudi infrastructure, including oil installations, are increasingly vulnerable to the Huthis' steadily advancing weaponry -- from ballistic missiles to unmanned drones.

Saudi halts production at attacked oil plants: Minister

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