Trump sees many options short of war with Iran as Pompeo backs Saudis’ ‘right to defend’ – World

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that there were many options before the war with Iran after Saudi Arabia, an ally of the United States, showed remains of drones and missiles that, he said, were used in a paralyzing attack at its oil sites it was "unquestionably sponsored" by Tehran.

"There are many options. There is the best option and there are options that are much less than that. And we'll see, "Trump told reporters in Los Angeles." I'm saying the last option means going to war. "

Trump said on Twitter that he had ordered the US Treasury to "substantially increase sanctions" against Iran, which denies carrying out the attacks, and told reporters that unspecified punitive economic measures will be announced in 48 hours. .

Trump's tweet followed repeated statements by the United States that the Islamic Republic was behind Saturday's attacks and came hours after Saudi Arabia said the attack was a "global will test."

The president took a cautious note when his secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Thursday, during a visit to Saudi Arabia, described the attacks as "an act of war" in the kingdom, the world's largest oil exporter, and said the United States supports Saudi Arabia "right to defend itself".

Iran, which has denied its involvement in the attack, warned the United States that it will retaliate immediately if it is the objective.

The attacks have rekindled fears about a broader conflagration in the region, as tensions remain high due to the collapse of Iran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Pompeo's comments on Twitter came after meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's defense minister. The Saudis showed Wednesday remains of missiles and drones and cited other evidence that, they say, shows that the raid was "unquestionably sponsored by Iran."

Pompeo called the attacks "unprecedented." "The threatening behavior of the Iranian regime will not be tolerated."

Pompeo would visit the United Arab Emirates to meet the powerful crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE is a close ally of Saudi Arabia and joined the kingdom in its war in Yemen against the Houthis.

The United Arab Emirates announced Thursday that it had joined a coalition led by the United States to protect waterways throughout the Middle East after an attack on Saudi oil facilities.

The state Wam The news agency quoted Salem al-Zaabi of the Emirati Foreign Ministry saying that the United Arab Emirates joined the coalition to "ensure global energy security and the continuous flow of energy supplies to the world economy."

Saudi Arabia joined the coalition on Wednesday. Australia, Bahrain and the United Kingdom also participate.

The United States formed the coalition after the attacks on oil tankers that US officials blame on Iran, as well as the seizure of oil tankers by Iran in the region. Iran denies being behind the tankers' explosions, although the attacks came after Tehran threatened to stop oil exports from the Persian Gulf.