"Iran, Saudi Energy Facility Attack Imminent"...High Tension Over Intelligence Sharing

(Photo by AFP)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Intelligence has been obtained that Iran is planning attacks on Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure to divert public attention from anti-government protests within the country, prompting related nations to be on high alert.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and CNN reported on the 1st (local time) that Saudi Arabia shared intelligence with the United States indicating an imminent Iranian attack, leading the military to elevate its crisis response posture.

The targets are identified as energy infrastructure within Saudi Arabia and Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where U.S. troops are stationed, though detailed information has not been disclosed.

A U.S. government official told CNN that American F-22 fighter jets are deployed in Saudi Arabia and that they are prepared to respond if Iran carries out an attack.

A National Security Council (NSC) official at the White House stated during a briefing that "the United States is in constant contact with Saudi Arabia through military and intelligence channels" and "will not hesitate to act to defend the interests of the U.S. and its partners in the region."

Saudi government officials say Iran's intention behind such attacks is to divert attention from the anti-government protests in Iran, accusing Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Israel of instigating the protests within Iran.

Since late September, Iran has launched dozens of ballistic missiles and armed drones at northern Iraq, including one that was shot down by a U.S. military aircraft while heading toward Erbil.

Iran refers to certain groups based in Erbil as "Iranian Kurdish separatists," claiming these groups are fomenting unrest within Iran.

Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned Saudi Arabia last month to stop broadcasting Iranian protests through satellite news channels such as Iran International.

At that time, Commander Salami stated, "This is our final warning," delivering an ultimatum. Iran International, which produces news targeting Iranians, was established in London in 2017 and is known to have ties to the Saudi royal family.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have accused Iran of drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil production facilities in 2019, though Iran denies responsibility.

As Saudi Arabia shares intelligence with the U.S. about the imminent Iranian attack, attention is focused on whether the strained relations between the two countries?exacerbated by incidents such as the Jamal Khashoggi abduction and murder?will improve.

Regarding the October 2018 abduction and murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the U.S. believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, was behind the incident, but Saudi Arabia denies this.

Saudi Arabia, which leads the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), announced last month that it would reduce crude oil production starting this month, together with non-member oil-producing countries such as Russia.

This move, which is expected to cause oil prices to rise just before the U.S. midterm elections, is anticipated to be quite disadvantageous to the current ruling Democratic Party in the U.S.

Shortly thereafter, the White House announced it would review whether the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia truly serves America's national security interests.