Iran preparing to attack Saudi - Saudi intelligence agencies claim -

Riyadh/Washington: Saudi intelligence agencies had informed the US that Iran would attack Saudi Arabia soon or even within 48 hours. After that, the Biden administration warned that the US would use special powers to protect its soldiers stationed in the Gulf region. For the past few days, there has been news about Iran’s attack on Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration had warned that Saudi Arabia, which rejected the US demand to reverse the decision to cut fuel production, would have to pay the price. Also, US senators demanded to withdraw the protection provided by the US to Saudi Arabia. Hence, it brings to the fore that there was a strong possibility that Saudis would have to pay the price of the possible attack by Iran.

Protests have been ongoing in Iran for more than the past six weeks. Iran had accused the United States and Israel, including the Saudi intelligence agency’s hand behind this. Iran had threatened that the Saudi regime would have to pay the price. Against that background, there were reports in the Western media that Iran was prepared to attack Saudi Arabia. Claims were made in the media that the Saudi intelligence department had informed the US. But now that the Pentagon has reacted to it, the seriousness of this claim has increased.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder has said that the US has been concerned about the threat in the Gulf. Also, ‘We’re in regular contact with our Saudi partners, in terms of what information they may have to provide on that front. But what we’ve said before, and I’ll repeat it, is that we will reserve the right to protect and defend ourselves no matter where our forces are serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere,’ Ryder added. Moreover, US State Department spokesman Ned Price also expressed concern about the threat to Saudi. But analysts point out the fact that neither the US Pentagon nor the State Department has given a reaction anywhere that the US will run for Saudi security.

Tensions have been created between the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia over the past few weeks. A month ago, it was decided in the OPEC Plus meeting to cut fuel production drastically. The Biden administration blamed the Saudis for this and pressured the Saudis to reverse the decision to cut fuel production. Officials associated with the Biden administration had warned that they would have to pay a heavy price if their demand was ignored. Simultaneously, it was also signalled that the demand of the US senators to withdraw the Patriot missiles supplied to Saudi Arabia was being seriously considered.

Some Pentagon officials had warned that if the United States withdraws the Patriot system from Saudi Arabia, the Iran-affiliated Houthi rebels in Yemen will attack Saudi Arabia with drones and missiles. If this happens, the security of the American troops will also be in danger along with Saudi Arabia, as these officials had pointed out. Thereupon, Pentagon has officially said it will take the necessary decisions for the security of US troops stationed in the Saudi and Gulf regions. The Pentagon, the US Defense Headquarters, has warned that the US was not committed to Saudi security through this.

Meanwhile, although the Pentagon and the US State Department reacted to the attack on Saudi Arabia, no alert has been issued to the US embassies in Saudi or the Gulf. Also, the international media have drawn attention to the inconsistency that security instructions have not been given to US citizens in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf. It signals that the Biden administration was making the Saudis aware of the consequences of reneging on their demands.