Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated on Thursday as Washington deployed more troops to the Gulf and Tehran challenged its arch-enemy to provide evidence it attacked Saudi oil facilities.
The Pentagon announced it was sending 200 troops with Patriot missiles to bolster Saudi Arabia’s defenses following the strikes this month that knocked out half of the Kingdom’s oil production.
After a week of diplomacy at the United Nations where European leaders unsuccessfully tried to arrange a US-Iran meeting, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded that Washington back up its accusations that Iran was behind the attacks.
“Those who make the allegations must provide the needed proof. What is your evidence?” he told reporters.
Tensions between Iran and the United States have soared since President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 international deal that was meant to lift sanctions in exchange for a commitment from Tehran that it would cease trying to develop nuclear weapons.
The United States, France, Germany, Britain and Saudi Arabia have all, to varying degrees, blamed Iran for the brazen September 14 air strikes on the kingdom’s Abqaiq plant and Khurais oil field.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States shared evidence on the attacks with other countries during the UN General Assembly.
“I think now it has struck them how clear it is that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not prepared to do the right thing and behave like a normal nation,” Pompeo told reporters Thursday.
Source: Guardian Newspaper.
