Tag: saudi

US eyes UN action over Saudi blasts

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States hopes that the UN Security Council takes up the attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure for which Washington blames Iran, a senior US official said Tuesday. The official said that Saudi Arabia, as the target of the weekend blasts, needed to take the lead in seeking action by the Security Council but that the United States first needed to prepare information for release. “We do see a […]

Pompeo heads to Saudi Arabia after US blames Iran

by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was to fly to Saudi Arabia Tuesday to discuss possible retaliation after Washington said it had proof that attacks on Saudi oil installations originated in Iran. Vice President Mike Pence announced that Pompeo was on his way to Saudi Arabia to “discuss our response.” “As the president said, we don’t want war with anybody but the United States is prepared,” Pence […]

Oil prices retreat after record gains

  LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Oil prices fell Tuesday but held most of the previous day’s record gains that were fuelled by an attack on Saudi facilities that wiped out half the country’s crude output. Traders were nervously awaiting further US response after it said Iran was likely to blame. The crisis revived fears of a conflict in the tinderbox Gulf region and raised questions about the security of crude fields in the world’s […]

Trump backed off on Iran last time — but will he again?

  by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump famously canceled a missile strike on Iran in June, but Tehran will not be resting easy following the unpredictable president’s warning that the United States is again “locked and loaded.” After giving diplomats whiplash last week with reversals on Afghanistan, Trump now has the world on tenterhooks over his response to a weekend attack on Saudi oil facilities that his top diplomat has blamed […]

US singles out Iran, readies response to Saudi oil attacks

  by Paul Handley  / with Anuj Chopra in Riyadh WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States readied its response Monday to the “unprecedented” attack on Saudi oil facilities as President Donald Trump said Iran was likely to blame, fanning new fears of conflict in the Gulf region. Trump said he was ready to help key ally Saudi Arabia counter the weekend drone attacks, which triggered a record leap in global oil prices, but […]

China urges ‘restraint’ from US, Iran after Saudi oil attack

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Monday urged the United States and Iran to “exercise restraint” after a drone attack on Saudi oil infrastructure, which Washington has blamed on Tehran. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying also said it was not responsible to accuse others “in the absence of a conclusive investigation or verdict”. “The Chinese side’s position is that we oppose all actions that enlarge or intensify conflict,” she told reporters at a […]

Trump: US ‘locked and loaded’ to respond to Saudi oil attack

by W.G. Dunlop with Anuj Chopra in Riyadh WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday the US is “locked and loaded” to respond to an attack on Saudi oil infrastructure that Washington has blamed on Iran, as Riyadh raced to restart operations at plants hit by drone attacks. It is the first time the president has hinted at a potential American military response to the attack, which slashed Saudi oil production by […]

Oil prices gain as Saudi minister backs output cuts; global stocks mixed

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stock markets were mixed on Monday ahead of key US economic data and a European Central Bank meeting, while crude prices gained as the new Saudi oil minister signaled he would defend oil prices. Major US stock indices finished little changed ahead of key reports on consumer prices and retail sales for August later in the week. Investors are in “wait and see” mode, said Art Hogan, chief […]

Nine wounded in Yemen rebel attack on Saudi airport: coalition

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — A Yemeni rebel attack on a civilian airport in southern Saudi Arabia wounded nine civilians Tuesday, a Riyadh-led coalition said, the latest in a series of strikes on the site. “The terrorist attack on Abha airport… led to the injury of nine civilians, including eight Saudi citizens and one carrying an Indian passport,” the military coalition said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. Earlier, the Iran-aligned […]

Russia, Saudi agree to extend OPEC production cut deal: Putin

  OSAKA, Japan (AFP) — Russia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to extend a deal to keep oil production low owing to abundant world supplies, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday. “We will extend this deal, Russia and Saudi Arabia. For how long? We will think about that. For six or nine months. It is possible that it could be up to nine months,” Putin told reporters after a G20 summit in Osaka. The OPEC […]

US says Saudis can do more after UN Khashoggi probe

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A US official said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia should do more to ensure accountability over the death of dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi but stopped short of blaming the crown prince after a UN probe linked him to the killing. Brian Hook, who is in charge of pushing President Donald Trump’s hawkish line on Iran, was asked about US support of Tehran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia as he testified before Congress. […]

‘Credible evidence’ linking Saudi crown prince to Khashoggi murder, says UN rapporteur Callamard

  by Nina LARSON Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — There is “credible evidence” linking Saudi Arabia’s crown prince to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last October, an independent UN rights expert said Wednesday, calling for an international investigation. In a fresh report, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard said she had “determined that there is credible evidence, warranting further investigation of high-level Saudi Officials’ individual liability, […]