The United States and Saudi Arabia have shared intelligence with each other indicating that Iran may be planning an imminent attack on energy infrastructure in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, a US official told CNN.
A Saudi official told CNN that Saudi Arabia had shared information about a possible attack with the US, but the source did not provide details.
A second US official said US F-22 fighter jets already in Saudi Arabia are available to deal with any threats.
The first official said there was no increase in US military protection levels in the area as the US military was not believed to be a target. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday that the US is “concerned about the threat picture” and “in constant contact through military, diplomatic channels, intelligence channels with the Saudis.”
“We will not hesitate to act to defend our interests and those of our partners in the region,” Price said in a department briefing. He said he was not aware of any public warnings issued through the embassy about a threat and confirmed that the State Department is required to inform citizens “if we have information that is accurate, reliable, that could potentially pose a threat to the community of American citizens.”
The US believes Iran may be trying to focus attention on Saudi Arabia, which Iran accuses of helping to fuel protests, the sources said.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that there were indications of a possible Iranian attack.
Pentagon press secretary Tax. Gen. Pat Ryder would not confirm whether there is currently a specific threat, but said the Pentagon remains “concerned about the threat situation in the region” and “is in regular contact with our Saudi partners.”
Iran is Saudi Arabia’s main regional rival, and Riyadh cut official diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran in response to Saudi Arabia’s execution of a Shiite cleric. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have also attacked oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in recent years, raising concerns that energy infrastructure could be a target for any Iranian provocations in the region.
Saudi and Iranian officials have been meeting quietly in recent months to discuss security issues, including the war in Yemen between the Houthis and a Saudi-backed military coalition. However, a fragile truce between the parties expired last month, leading to renewed tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
