Page 11 - MEOG Week 44 2022

MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

POLICY television channel based in London. “This is The US and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran in
our last warning, because you are interfering 2019 of being behind a big attack in eastern
Saudis tell US that Iran may in our internal affairs through these media,” Saudi Arabia, which halved the oil-rich
Major-General Hossein Salami said. “You are
kingdom’s production and caused energy
attack the kingdom involved in this matter and know that you are prices to spike. The Iranians denied they were
behind the attack.
vulnerable.”
Iran has accused Saudi Arabia of meddling The heightened concerns about a The Saudis have also been hit repeatedly in
in its affairs, with protests in Iran continuing potential attack on Riyadh come as the recent years by drones, missiles and mortars
since mid-September; the United States says Biden administration criticised Tehran for its launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels
threats are concerning, and that it will defend crackdown on the protests and condemned it in Yemen. Saudi Arabia formed a coalition
Saudi Arabia and other Middle East allies. for sending hundreds of drones – as well as to battle the Houthis in 2015 and has been
The United States has responded to reports technical support – to Russia for use in its internationally criticised for its air attacks
of threats from Iran against Saudi Arabia by war in Ukraine. in the war, which have killed thousands of
saying it is concerned and will not hesitate One of the officials who confirmed the civilians.
to respond if necessary. We are concerned intelligence sharing to the Wall Street Journal In recent weeks, the Biden administration
about the threat picture, and we remain described it as a credible threat of an attack has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials
in constant contact through military and “soon or within 48 hours”. No US embassy for the brutal crackdown on demonstrators
intelligence channels with the Saudis,” the or consulate in the region has issued alerts after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in
National Security Council said in a statement or guidance to Americans in Saudi Arabia or September after her arrest by Iran’s morality
on Tuesday. “We will not hesitate to act in the elsewhere in the Middle East based on the police. The administration has also hit Iran
defence of our interests and partners in the intelligence. The officials were not authorised with sanctions for supplying drones to Russia
region.” The Wall Street Journal newspaper to comment publicly and spoke on condition for use in its war in Ukraine.
first reported on Saudi Arabia sharing the of anonymity. At least 288 people have been killed and
intelligence with the US earlier on Tuesday. Asked about reports of the intelligence 14,160 arrested during the protests, according
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, shared by the Saudis, Brigadier General Pat to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran.
Nasser Kanani, responded to the report Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Demonstrations have continued, even as the
on Wednesday by calling it “baseless” and US military officials “are concerned about feared paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has
aimed at tarnishing Tehran’s relations with the threat situation in the region”. “We’re in warned Iranians to stop.
its neighbours. “The Islamic Republic of Iran regular contact with our Saudi partners, in ALJAZEERA
considers the establishment and improvement terms of what information they may have to
of stability and security in the region to be provide on that front,” Ryder said. “But what Russia studies of Iran oil,
possible through constructive engagement we’ve said before, and I’ll repeat it, is that we
with neighbours and will pursue it seriously,” will reserve the right to protect and defend gas fields in final stages
he said. ourselves no matter where our forces are
Iran has not provided any evidence of serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere.” The CEO of National Iranian Oil Company
its claim that Saudi Arabia and other rivals US State Department spokesperson Ned (NIOC) the study of Iran’s oil and gas fields
have been behind anti-government protests Price said America was “concerned about the by Russian companies is nearing its end and
that have been ongoing in the country since threat picture,” without elaborating. the Memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for
mid-September; in October, the commander The latest concerns come at a time of these studies will soon turn into contracts.
of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard strained relations between Riyadh and Mohsen Khojstehmehr told Shana about
Corps warned Saudi Arabia to tone down Washington after the Saudi-led OPEC+ the most important focus of Iran-Russia
coverage of the protests in Iran by Farsi- alliance last month decided to cut oil output negotiations in the 16th Joint Economic
language satellite news channels, including targets, which raised fears of a gasoline price Commission of the two countries: “The issue
Iran International, a Saudi-backed satellite spike in the US. of energy, especially the upstream sector of oil

Week 44 02•November•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P11