US locked and loaded vs Saudi attackers

US President Donald Trump says a meeting with Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani is not happening. (AFP)

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Sunday evening tweeted that the US has “reason to believe that we know” who is responsible for an attack on a Saudi Arabian oil field and the country is “locked and loaded depending on verification” following the crippling strike.

“Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!” Trump said.

On Saturday, coordinated strikes on key Saudi Arabian oil facilities — among the world’s largest energy production centers — disrupted 5% of the daily global oil supply.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels took responsibility for the attacks, but they are often backed by Iran.

A day after, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the attack on Saudi oil facilities and argued there is “no evidence the attacks came from Yemen,” a senior administration official briefed CNN on information to back up Pompeo’s claims.

Trump tweeted later Sunday that it is “incorrect” to say he is “willing to meet with Iran, ‘No Condition,'” a contradiction of his own administration.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the President, “has said he would sit down with (Iranian President Hassan) Rouhani with no conditions.” (CNN)