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'An act of war': Saudi Arabia unveils 'evidence' that Iran was behind oil attack

Saudi Arabia has displayed remnants of what it described as Iranian drones and cruise missiles used in an attack on Saudi oil facilities, saying they were "undeniable" evidence of Iranian aggression.

A total of 25 drones and missiles were launched at two oil plants in last weekend's strikes, including Iranian Delta Wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and "Ya Ali" cruise missiles, Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki says.

"The attack was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran," he told a news conference on Wednesday.

Saudi military spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki displays what he describes as an Iranian cruise missile and drones used in an attack this weekend that targeted the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry, during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.  (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Saudi military spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki displays what he describes as an Iranian cruise missile and drones used in an attack this weekend that targeted the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry. Source: AP

"The evidence ... that you have seen in front of you, makes this undeniable."

Authorities were still working to determine the exact launch point, Malki said, repeatedly declining to answer reporters' questions about whether Iran actually carried out the attack.

Iran has denied any involvement in the assault that initially halved Saudi Arabia's oil production.

"They want to impose maximum ... pressure on Iran through slander," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said.

"We don't want conflict in the region ... Who started the conflict?" he added, blaming Washington and its Gulf allies for the war in Yemen.

Journalists film what Saudi military spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki said was evidence of Iranian weaponry used in the attack targeted Saudi Aramco's facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.  (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Journalists film what Saudi military spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki said was evidence of Iranian weaponry used in the attack targeted Saudi Aramco's facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais. Source: AP

An adviser to Rouhani tweeted that Malki's press conference proved Saudi Arabia "knows nothing".

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which has been battling a Saudi-led military coalition, has claimed responsibility for the strikes.

On Wednesday, the group gave details of the type of drones it said were used in the September 14 attack and warned that the United Arab Emirates was also in its sights.

Donald Trump responds to Saudi claims

US President Donald Trump said he had ordered a major increase in sanctions on Iran.

"I have just instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to substantially increase sanctions on the country of Iran!" he wrote in a tweet on Wednesday, with no further explanation.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, called the attacks “an act of war” at a level not seen before.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed the need for a unified response in a conversation with the US president on Wednesday afternoon, Johnson's office said.

"They condemned the attacks and discussed the need for a united diplomatic response from international partners," a spokesman for Johnson's office said.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the hit on the world's biggest crude exporter was a "real test of the global will" to confront subversion of the international order.

His envoy to London, Prince Khalid bin Bander, told the BBC the attack was "almost certainly" Iranian-backed.

"We're trying not to react too quickly because the last thing we need is more conflict in the region," he added.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was to meet Prince Mohammed in Jeddah on Wednesday to discuss the crisis before heading to the United Arab Emirates.

UN officials monitoring sanctions on Iran and Yemen were also heading to Saudi Arabia to investigate.

France, which is trying to salvage an international nuclear deal with Iran that Washington quit last year, said it wanted to establish the facts before reacting.

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