WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his country's mission with regard to Iran was to avert a war, confirmed by parliament speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said the United States had no intention of waging a new Middle East war, particularly on behalf of Saudi Arabia.
Pompeo said in remarks to local media that he and President Donald Trump want to give diplomacy a chance with Iran, but pointed to their lack of confidence in the possibility of persuading it to act as a normal state, as he put it.
He said the additional US troops to be sent to the Gulf on Friday were "deterrent and defense", about a week after attacks on two Saudi Aramco oil facilities.
He added that the Iranian people want to reach a peaceful solution and not to share their regime in what he described as terrorism and chaos, hoping that the United Nations will take a strong position on Iran.
Although the US administration has not ruled out the military response to Aramco's attacks, US officials assert that President Trump is now focusing on defending Saudi Arabia and not seeking war on Iran.
Earlier in the day, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized President Trump's decision to accelerate the sale of weapons and send additional troops to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and demanded not to go to war "on behalf of Saudi Arabia."
The speaker stressed that the United States has no intention of fighting a new war in the Middle East on behalf of Saudi Arabia, and that the Americans are tired of the war.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced on Friday evening that military reinforcements would be sent to the Gulf region after attacks on two Saudi Aramco facilities in the east of the country.
Saudi Arabia, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said his country avoids war, does not want war with Iran, and described the war as the last option, stressing his country's determination to do everything necessary to avoid further damage.
On the other hand, during a military parade marking the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed that his country is ready to negotiate and have logic, but will not accept surrender and humiliation and will defend its territory forcefully.
He stressed that Iran will not attack any country, but in return will not allow others to attack its territory and borders, and will face threats with all force.
Iran rejects accusations by Saudi Arabia and the United States of being behind the attacks on two Saudi oil facilities a week ago, which the Houthis claimed responsibility for, and caused the reduction of Saudi oil production in half.