Saudi Arabia has the right to defend itself, and Iranian aggression won’t be tolerated, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Thursday after a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“The U.S. stands with #SaudiArabia and supports its right to defend itself. The Iranian regime’s threatening behavior will not be tolerated,” wrote Pompeo.
Pompeo traveled to the UAE on Thursday for more talks with Gulf allies regarding the alleged Iranian attacks on Saudi oil facilities on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military has drawn up a list of Iranian targets including the Abadan oil refinery—one of the world’s biggest—and Kharg Island, the country’s largest oil-export facility, NBC News reported on Wednesday. Attacks on these facilities would cripple Tehran’s ability to process and sell oil.
Other possibilities would be striking missile launch sites, bases or other assets of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the report.
Iran has denied involvement in the strike against Saudi Arabia and threatened to retaliate if attacked.