Raab ‘confident’ Iran behind attacks on Saudi oil facilities
UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab said today that the government was “confident” Iran was behind the major attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities earlier this month.
In a statement to parliament Raab said: “We are now confident that Iran was responsible. The evidence is clear, and there is no plausible alternative explanation.”
Raab said the attack consisted of 18 drones and seven cruise missiles which hit an oil field and a processing facility.
Read more: Saudi Arabia restores oil production after drone attack
“In these circumstances, the UK has sought, and will continue to seek, to de-escalate tensions,” Raab said.
“But our response is also an acid test of our resolve.”
Raab said the attacks were a reminder of the importance of Iran never gaining access to nuclear weapons.
Read more: Boris Johnson blames Iran for drone attack on Saudi oil
He said the government was still committed to the Iran nuclear deal, but said Iran must come back to full compliance with the programme.
“At the same time, as both President Trump and President Macron have said, we can improve upon the [nuclear deal]. Ultimately, we need a longer-term framework that provides greater certainty over Iran’s nuclear programme,” he said.
Raab also condemned Iran’s practice of detaining dual-nationals such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has been imprisoned in Iran since April 2016.
“Iran’s behaviour is unlawful, cruel and it is totally unacceptable. I have raised all of these cases, along with Iran’s wider conduct with Foreign Minister Zarif,” he said.
Raab said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had also raised the issue at his meeting with Iranian President Rouhani in New York yesterday.