Saudi oil attacks an Iranian 'act of war', says Pompeo!

• Pompeo met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss a response to the strike.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced strikes on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure as an "act of war" on Wednesday, as Riyadh unveiled new evidence it said showed the assault was "unquestionably" sponsored by Iran.

The comments raise the risk of a wider conflict in the tinderbox Gulf region after the weekend strikes on the heart of the kingdom's oil industry knocked out half its production, rattling energy markets.

"This was an Iranian attack," Pompeo told reporters on his plane before landing in the western city of Jeddah, calling it "an act of war".
"This is an attack of a scale we've just not seen before."

His comment came as Saudi Arabia displayed what it said were fragments of 25 drones and cruise missiles fired at two facilities in the country's east, engulfing them in flames.

"The attack was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran," defence ministry spokesman Turki Al Maliki said.

Tehran-linked Houthi rebels in the Kingdom's southern neighbour Yemen have claimed responsibility, but both Washington and Riyadh have ruled that out.

"We are working to know the exact launch point," Maliki said.

Pompeo said there was no evidence for media reports the attacks had been launched from Iraq - caught between its two main sponsors, Tehran and Washington.

Diplomats at the United Nations said experts were expected in the Kingdom to lead an international inquiry.

Pompeo met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to discuss a response to the strike, which took out six per cent of global supplies.

'We don't want war'

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the administration has concluded the attack involved cruise missiles from Iran, and said evidence would be presented at the UN General Assembly next week.

Vice President Mike Pence reiterated President Donald Trump's comments that "we don't want war with anybody, but the United States is prepared."

Trump, who has already re-imposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy, promised on Wednesday to "substantially increase" the measures, winning quick praise from Riyadh.

He said details would be given within 48 hours.

Late Wednesday, the United States still had not issued Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his delegation with visas to attend the meeting in New York, Iranian state media said.

Maliki said Saturday's attack did not originate from Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is locked in a prolonged conflict with the Houthis, "despite Iran's efforts to make it appear so".

He said the strike was beyond the capabilities of the militia - who have however mounted dozens of smaller attacks on Saudi territory.

Oil prices rocked

Observers say the Saudi experience in Yemen, where despite their vast firepower they have failed to subdue the ragtag but highly motivated militia, has made Riyadh circumspect about wading into another conflict.

"I certainly hope we're not" going to have a war, Riyadh's ambassador to London Prince Khalid bin Bandar told the BBC.

"We are trying not to react too quickly because the last thing we need is more conflict in the region."

Oil prices have see-sawed since the attacks, with record gains Monday followed by a tumble Tuesday as the Saudi assurances on supplies soothed the markets.