Ryad (AFP)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, visiting Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, described the attack on oil infrastructure as "an act of war", attributing it back to Iran soon after the presentation. a Saudi inquiry that Tehran "unquestionably sponsored" the attack.

Deported to Saudi Arabia to "coordinate efforts to counter Iranian aggression in the region," Pompeo reiterated that Iran was responsible for Saturday's devastating strikes, claimed by Yemeni Houthi rebels, while the US president Donald Trump claimed from Los Angeles that he had "many options" to respond to Iran.

"It was an Iranian attack, it did not come from the Houthis," insisted Mr. Pompeo, referring to an "act of war" and assuring that "the equipment used is not known as part of the arsenal of Houthis ".

But the rebels have again claimed the attacks and even threatened to hit "dozens of targets" in the United Arab Emirates, Ryad's allies in the coalition that has been working since 2015 in Yemen to support the government against the rebellion.

Ryad, for his part, accused Iran of "indisputably sponsoring" the attacks.

At the presentation of an official inquiry, the spokesman of the Saudi Ministry of Defense, Turki al-Maliki, unveiled debris of "drones" and "cruise missiles".

According to him, 18 drones and seven cruise missiles struck Saturday two sites of the world's largest oil exporter after being pulled from the "North", but Yemen is located in the south of the kingdom. An investigation must determine the exact origin of the shots, he said.

The Saudi leader did not, however, directly accuse Iran of launching attacks from its territory.

- Hardened US sanctions -

Iran denies playing any role in the attacks on Ryad, its regional rival, which halved the kingdom's oil production and temporarily boost crude oil prices.

Tehran, on the other hand, provides political support to Yemeni Houthi rebels.

Trump announced on Wednesday on Twitter that he has ordered a "substantial tightening of sanctions" against Iran and added later that he will specify the details "within 48 hours".

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has denounced "illegal" and "inhumane" sanctions that "target ordinary citizens".

Washington has already reimposed heavy sanctions on Iran since the Republican billionaire withdrew his country in May 2018 from the Iranian nuclear deal reached in 2015.

"There are a lot of options (to answer Iran), there is the ultimate option and there are far fewer options than that," tweeted Trump.

According to the services of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he spoke with Donald Trump about the need for a "united diplomatic response" from the international community after the attacks.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Mike Pompeo will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has already spoken on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin - who "called for a thorough and objective investigation" - and with the French head of state Emmanuel Macron, who will send experts to participate in the Saudi inquiry. The United Nations will also send its experts, according to diplomatic sources.

The Crown Prince said Wednesday that the attacks were testing "the international willingness to fight sabotage operations that threaten global security and stability," according to the official Saudi agency SPA.

- "More than a threat" -

In a note sent Monday to the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in Iran, the Islamic Republic has denied and condemned the US accusations, saying that if "action was to be taken against Iran", Tehran would respond "immediately" with "a far greater reach than a mere threat," according to the official Irna agency.

The attacks on Saudi Arabia woke up fears of a military confrontation with Iran, while Washington and Tehran came close to the direct confrontation in June. Trump said he canceled strikes against Iranian targets after Tehran shot down an American drone.

While, on Sunday, the White House said that Mr. Trump did not rule out a meeting with President Rohani at the UN General Assembly in New York, the US president finally said he preferred "do not meet him".

The Iranian president's trip "could be canceled" for lack of visas issued by the United States, Irna said Wednesday.

Tehran had earlier ruled out any talks with the United States at the UN unless they reinstated the Iran nuclear deal, according to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader.

© 2019 AFP