Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 19-09-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

A University of Birmingham professor has told Radio Islam that while Iran may be allegedly complicit in the attack of Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, the Kingdom is being cautious to avoid Iran escalating the tensions.

Saudi Arabia says initial investigations into the incident on its oil facilities have shown that the weapons used were Iranian.

It says the attack came from the “north” and were “unquestionably” sponsored by Iran, but investigations are continuing to determine the source of the attack.

Showing debris from the alleged weapons used at a press conference on Wednesday, defence ministry spokesman Turki al-Malki says there was no way the attacks could have been launched from Yemen, as claimed by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.

Malki says the recovered drone and missile parts provided “undeniable” evidence of Iranian aggression.

University of Birmingham’s Professor Scott Lucas says the US claims there is a possibility the attack was allegedly carried out by Iran.

“The Americans says they did track some of these missiles and drones as they came in, so they know the direction they came from and they are claiming that their intelligence says the launch site for the attack was not in Iraq as they were initially suggesting, but in Western Iran. If that is true and if they can establish that for Iran to attack from inside its territory that would be a very significant challenge.”

Lucas says when Saudi Arabia and the world’s oil supply is affected by such attacks, there will always be concerns about the duration of the disruption and the effect on global oil prices.

“So I think the very least the idea that there has been this attack and that whoever did it, probably Iran can do so again creates an element of risk and instability in the oil market, which means prices will continue to go up.”

The international community has condemned the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure which threatens the global economy and the Kingdom’s security. 

Listen to the interview with Scott Lucas