Cruise missiles and drones, used in four attacks in 2019 against Saudi Arabia, "are of Iranian origin" with items exported to Iran or manufactured in Iran, says report by UN Secretary-General released Thursday to the Security Council.

"The UN lacks expertise to carry out sophisticated investigations" and "Iran categorically rejects the report's observations" on its involvement in the attacks in Saudi Arabia or in weapons seized by the United States, reacted on Friday in a communicated the Iranian mission to the United Nations.

The report by Antonio Guterres on the application of resolution 2231 endorsing in 2015 the nuclear agreement with Iran details the examination of debris from cruise missiles and drones used in the attacks on Saudi oil installations in Afif , in May 2019, in Abqaiq and Khurays, in September 2019 and from Abha International Airport in June and August 2019.

Saudi oil installations attacked

"The secretariat believes that the cruise missiles and / or some of their components used in the four attacks are of Iranian origin," said the document.

Regarding the air vehicles used in the attacks on Saudi oil installations in May and September 2019, "the secretariat considers that the drones or some of their components used in the two attacks are of Iranian origin," added the UN chief. .

>> Read also: Why the assassination of Qassem Soleimani leaves the oil markets unmoved

In September, the multiple attacks on the oil sites of the Saudi company Aramco had been spectacular, caused extensive damage and momentarily halved Saudi production of black gold.

At the end of September, France, Germany and the United Kingdom joined the United States to accuse Tehran of being "responsible" for the attacks.

Suspicions around Iranian weapons found in Yemen

The report also examines U.S. arms seizures off Yemen, believed to be targeting Houthi rebels, on November 25, 2019 and February 9, 2020.

Weapons or elements of these weapons "are of Iranian origin" or have characteristics similar to Iranian productions, specifies the report by evoking missile launchers produced in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and optical weapon sights delivered to Iran between February 2016 and April 2018. 

>> Read also: Attacks against Saudi Arabia: "The Houthis have benefited from Iranian technology"

Parts "may have been transferred inconsistently with resolution 2231," notes the UN secretary-general, also noting that some of them are identical or similar to elements found in the attacks against Saudi Arabia. in 2019.

"A series of serious inaccuracies"

In a letter dated 22 May, Iran indicated that "it was not (its) policy to export weapons in violation of the arms embargoes decreed by the Security Council," said the head of the ministry. the UN. Tehran also argued that "resolution 2231 does not prohibit a transfer of weapons from Tehran," he added.

In its statement on Friday, the Iranian mission said that the report contained "a series of serious inaccuracies". She also points out that her conclusions "reproduce the same accusations made by the United States", seeing Washington's hand accordingly.

The UN report finally returns to the satellite launches by Iran, which the West considers incompatible with the terms of resolution 2231. What is opposed by Iran, supported by Russia, under a different interpretation of the text.

With AFP

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR