American Senator:

US Provoking Iran, Saudis Should Defend Themselves

Sen. Tim Kaine on Wednesday cautioned against the prospect of war with Iran over accusations that Tehran was behind the recent attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, saying it is up to the Saudis to defend themselves.

News ID: 447160

Date: 20 September 2019 - 23:13

RNA - In an appearance on CNN's "New Day", Kaine remarked that there was no reason for the US to get involved in defending Saudi Arabia's energy interests from attacks.

"There is absolutely no reason for the US to go to war or engage in military action to protect Saudi oil, and a war based on some fundamental mistruths the administration is promoting," he said, stressing, "Let the Saudis defend themselves."

"They're going around saying that the attack was 'unprovoked'," Kaine added, when questioned what "mistruths" the administration was spreading.

"The US is provoking Iran. We were in a diplomatic deal with them that allowed them to sell their oil. We pulled out of that deal," the senator stated, referring to Iran's Nuclear Deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which US President Donald Trump pulled Washington from in May 2018.

"You don't have to like [Iran], but we are provoking them," he continued.

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Several drones flown by the Yemeni forces targeted Saudi Arabia’s key oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais on Saturday. The attacks shut down about 50 percent of the kingdom’s crude and gas production, and cut the state oil giant’s crude oil supply by around 5.7 million barrels per day. A return to normal production could take months, not weeks.

Without prviding any reliable proof, the US administration has tried to build its case that Iran was behind the attacks, but Tehran has strongly denied any involvement in the assaults.

Iran has strongly rejected US officials' allegations that Tehran was involved in the drone attacks against the Saudi oil installations.

Tensions mounted between Tehran and Washington last May, when Trump pulled the United States out of the JCPOA, and re-imposed harsh sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism. The American leader and his hawkish advisers then-National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have since been stepping up pressure against Iranians.

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