US ready to strike after attack on Saudi Arabian oil plant

President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “locked and loaded depending on verification” that Iran is behind the attack on major Saudi Arabian oil facilities.

Secretary of state, Michael Pompeo, went along on the same lines, saying that there was no evidence the drones were launched in Yemen and accused Iran of “an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply”.

President Trump tweeted: “[We] are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia] as to who they believe was the cause of this attack and under what terms we would proceed!”

Trump also announced that he had authorised the release of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve “if needed” and had instructed agencies to expedite approvals of oil pipeline projects so as to meet global supply of oil, tweeting: “PLENTY OF OIL!”

Saudi Aramco lost roughly 5.7 million barrels per day of output after the attacks, although officials cited progress in restoring production.

Both Trump and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani now are saying that the hinted meeting between the two at the UN session in New York is not going to happen.