US Concerned About Iranian Threats To Saudi Arabia
In response to reports of Iranian threats against Saudi Arabia, the US announced on Tuesday that Washington would not "hesitate to act" to protect US interests and those of its allies.
Facts
- In response to reports of Iranian threats against Saudi Arabia, the US announced on Tuesday that Washington would not "hesitate to act" to protect US interests and those of its allies.
- Saudi Arabia and the US suspect Iran is planning an attack on Saudi energy infrastructure as Tehran accuses Riyadh of fueling protests in Iran. Without providing further specifics, the Pentagon said it was concerned about the regional "threat situation."
- In mid-October, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, accused the Saudi leadership of fueling protests in Iran by reporting on the demonstrations in Persian-language media outside the country. Salami blamed Saudi Arabia for interfering in Iran's internal affairs and issued a "last warning."
- Since September, Iran has reportedly carried out dozens of ballistic missile and armed drone attacks on northern Iraq. Saudi intelligence officials claim Iran is about to carry out attacks in the kingdom and the Iraqi city of Erbil, where US troops are stationed.
- Saudi Arabia had already blamed Iran for a 2019 missile and drone attack on its oil plants — an accusation Iran denied. The Sunni Muslim and Shiite regional powers have been locked in rivalry for decades, supporting allies that fight proxy wars across the region.
- On Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry responded to the latest reports by calling what it deemed " baseless" warnings of an imminent Iranian attack an attempt to damage Tehran's improving relations with its neighbors.
Sources: Al Jazeera, CNN, Iranintl, Mirror, Blue Mountains Gazette, and Alarabiya.
Narratives
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by IRNA. While pretending to be concerned about security in the Persian Gulf, the US is escalating regional tensions. This latest, unsubstantiated report adds to the West's media storm against Iran, which only serves to create chaos in the country. Washington and its allies aren't concerned about the people of Iran — or anyone else — but with their own power interests.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Iran International. The only unsubstantiated claims are Iran's: Rather than taking responsibility for its self-manufactured chaos, the government has attempted to blame the current unrest on interference from external actors. The protests — fueled by public outrage over Tehran's persecution of its own citizens — are an expression of growing popular resistance to the autocratic regime.
