Iran leader rules out negotiations with the US

Obinwannem News Saudi oil attacks: All the latest updates

Iran will not hold talks with the United States and Washington’s policy of maximum pressure on Tehran will fail, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

“The policy of ‘maximum pressure’ against Iran is worthless,” state TV quoted Khamenei as saying.

“All Iranian officials unanimously believe there will be no negotiations with the US at any level,” he said.

Khamenei added that if Washington changes its behaviour and returns to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, “then it can join multilateral talks between Iran and other parties to the deal”.

Russia says no request to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran

The Kremlin said it had not received a formal request from any party for Moscow to act as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had not received any new information about the attack that could help it draw any final conclusions about the incident.

“We do not favour any kind of hurried accusations or conclusions about who is responsible for this attack,” Peskov said.

Saudi oil attacks: All the latest updates

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following drone attacks on two major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

The pre-dawn attacks on Saturday knocked out more than half of crude output from the world’s top exporter – five percent of the global oil supply – and cut output by 5.7 million barrels per day.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been locked in a war with a Saudi-UAE-led coalition since 2015, claimed responsibility for the attacks, warning Saudi Arabia that their targets “will keep expanding”.

But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo swiftly accused Iran of being behind the assault, without providing any evidence. The claim was rejected by Tehran which said the allegations were meant to justify actions against it.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has promised to “confront and deal with this terrorist aggression”, while US President Donald Trump hinted at possible military action after Riyadh concluded its investigation into the attacks.

Japan’s Abe to meet Rouhani at UNGA

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday he would meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the end of the month, public broadcaster NHK said.

During a meeting with members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Abe repeated his intention of speaking with Rouhani on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, according to the NHK.

Abe added that he would travel to Belgium after the UNGA session and meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the NHK added.

Saudi Arabia invites global experts to investigate attack

Riyadh said its initial investigations indicate that Iranian weapons were used in the attacks on its key oil installations and said it would “invite United Nations and international experts to view the situation on the ground and to participate in the investigations”.

“The kingdom will take the appropriate measures based on the results of the investigation, to ensure its security and stability,” a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Saudi Arabia “affirms that it has the capability and resolve to defend its land and people, and to forcefully respond to these aggressions,” the statement added, calling the attack “an unprecedented act of aggression and sabotage” and an “egregious crime which threatens international peace and security.”

Price of oil jumps nearly 15 percent

Oil prices ended nearly 15 percent higher on Monday, with Brent crude logging its biggest jump in more than 30 years amid record trading volumes.

Brent crude futures settled at $69.02 a barrel, rising $8.80, or 14.6 percent – its largest one-day percentage gain since at least 1988.

In the US, West Texas Intermediate futures ended at $62.90 a barrel, soaring $8.05, or 14.7 percent – the biggest one-day percentage gain since December 2008.

Monday, September 16

Trump says ‘looks like’ Iran responsible for Saudi attacks

Trump said it’s “looking like” Iran was responsible for the attacks on key oil installations in Saudi Arabia, but he said he does not want war.

Trump said at the White House that the US is not looking at retaliatory options until he has “definitive proof” that Iran was responsible.

Still, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the US “is prepared” if the attacks warrant a response.

Putin proposes Russian missile defence for Saudi Arabia

Russia is ready to help Saudi Arabia following attacks on the Saudi oil industry if needed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with the leaders of Turkey and Iran in Ankara and proposed Russian weapons for purchase.

“We are ready to provide respective assistance to Saudi Arabia, and it would be enough for the political leadership of Saudi Arabia to make a wise government decision – as the leaders of Iran did in their time by purchasing S-300 and as [Turkish] President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan did by purchasing the latest S-400 ‘Triumph’ air defence systems from Russia,” Putin said.

These Russian weapons would protect any infrastructure facilities in Saudi Arabia, he added. 
Attack on Saudi ‘unprecedented’, says Pentagon chief

Attack on Saudi ‘unprecedented’, says Pentagon chief

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the recent attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities was “unprecedented” and the US, along with its allies, was working to defend the “international rules-based order that is being undermined by Iran.”

Read more here>>>https://www.aljazeera.com

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