“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not
want war in the region and does not strive for that… but at the same time, if
the other side chooses war, the kingdom will fight this with all force and
determination and it will defend itself, its citizens and its interests,”
al-Jubeir told reporters.Saudi Arabia does not want war but will not hesitate
to defend itself against Iran, a top Saudi diplomat said Sunday after the
kingdom’s energy sector was targeted this past week amid heightened tensions in
the Persian Gulf. US
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, warned Iran that it will face destruction if
it seeks a fight, while Iranian officials said their country isn’t looking for
war. Trump spoke after a rocket hit near the US Embassy in Baghdad. Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi minister
of state for foreign affairs, spoke a week after four oil tankers— two of them
Saudi — were targeted in an alleged act of sabotage off the coast of the United
Arab Emirates and days after Iran-allied Yemeni rebels claimed a drone attack
on a Saudi oil pipeline.On Sunday night, the US military command that oversees
the Mideast confirmed an explosion outside the US Embassy compound in Baghdad
and said there were no US or coalition casualties. A State Department spokesman, who
spoke on condition of anonymity, said that “a low-grade rocket did land within
the International Zone near the US Embassy.” The spokesman said that “attacks
on US personnel and facilities will not be tolerated and will be responded to
in a decisive manner” and added that the US will hold “Iran responsible if any
such attacks are conducted by its proxy militia forces or elements of such
forces.” Earlier, after initial reports of
the attack, Trump tweeted a warning to Iranian leaders: “If Iran wants to
fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States
again!” Trump tweeted.
No comments:
Post a Comment