Reuters: Aramco attacks planned and carried out by Iran

Reuters reported that the attack on two Aramco facilities in Khurais and Abqaiq inside Saudi Arabia was planned and acted directly by Iran.

In a special report published by Reuters, it gave details of the planning and implementation of the attack, four months before the operation, ie, last May.

The agency said a meeting took place "in a heavily fortified complex in Tehran" attended by senior leaders of the Revolutionary Guards whose main objective was to discuss how to punish America for withdrawing from the nuclear deal and impose economic sanctions on Tehran.

According to four sources described by Reuters as "informed" of the meeting, one of the leaders in the presence of Revolutionary Guards commander Hussein Salami, "It is time to publicize our swords and teach them a lesson."

After deliberating ideas about attacking high-value targets, including US military bases, the meeting concluded that Saudi oil facilities were being targeted and avoided an open confrontation with America.

According to sources cited by Reuters, the Supreme Leader of the Republic of Iran Ali Khamenei agreed to the operation on strict terms such as that Iranian forces avoid the injury of any civilians or Americans.

According to a source who said Reuters was "familiar with the decision-making process in Iran," the details were discussed at length in at least five meetings and final approval was issued "by September.

Getting into a war
One of the possible targets initially discussed was targeting a seaport in Saudi Arabia, but these ideas have been ruled out because of fears of heavy casualties that could lead to a harsh response from the United States and encourage Israel to intervene in a region that could lead to war. .

He added that "the agreement on Aramco was reached almost unanimously," and "the idea was to review Iran's ability to reach depth and military capabilities."

The attack has temporarily halved Saudi oil production, disrupted 5 percent of global oil supplies, and soared oil prices.

The attack prompted US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to accuse Iran of "an act of war." Additional US sanctions were imposed on Tehran.

Reuters could not confirm the account of events from the Iranian leadership, and a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards declined to comment, while Iran insists to deny links to the attack.

For his part, Ali Reza Mir Yousufi, spokesman for the Iranian Mission to the United Nations in New York rejected this account of events. He said Iran had not played a role in the attacks and there had been no meetings of senior security officials to discuss such an operation, and Khamenei had not authorized any attack.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal quoted informed sources as saying that US officials had briefed Saudi Arabia on intelligence reports that Iran had fired more than 20 drones and several missiles at Saudi oil facilities.

The newspaper said Saudi authorities said the United States did not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that the attack was launched from Iran, and that US information was inconclusive.