Trump

The United States president, Donald Trump says he is not looking at retaliatory options against Iran until he has convincing proof that Tehran was behind the attack on Saudi Arabia’s  oil facilities.

Fielding questions from journalists at the White House on Monday, Trump said it was looking like Iran was behind the attacks on the oil facilities, insisting that he does not want war. He however added that the US was prepared if a response is warranted. “It’s certainly looking that way at this moment and we’ll let you know. As soon as we find out definitively we’ll let you know but it does look that way,” Trump responsed when asked if he thinks Iran was behind the attacks.

He added: “I don’t want war with anybody but we’re prepared more than anybody.”

Iran has rejected claims it was to blame for Saturday’s drone attacks which damaged the world’s biggest crude processing plant in Saudi Arabia and triggered the largest jump in crude prices in decades.

Global prices surged nearly 20 percent following the bombing of two oil plants before dropping to about 10 percent when markets calmed in reaction to Mr. Trump’s suggestion that America’s stockpile could be used if required.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo whom Trump had confirmed would be travelling to Saudi Arabia also said: “Emerging information indicates that responsibility lies with Iran.”

Although Yemen’s Houthi rebels who are backed by Iran say they were responsible for the attacks, Saudi Arabia and the US have accused Tehran of being behind the attacks on the Abqaiq facility and the Khurais oil field in the early hours of Saturday. Saudi’s military spokesman, Colonel Turki al Malki said their initial investigations of the attacks suggest that Iranian weapons were used and that they were ‘not launched from Yemen’.

Saudi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said it will invite United Nations and international experts to take part in an investigation and will take appropriate measures depending on the results to ensure its security and stability.

Saudi Arabia, which is locked in a long-standing power struggle with Iran in the region is leading a coalition, which includes the UAE in a war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.