At UN, Trump slams Iran attack on Saudi oil fields and their 'blood lust' regime – CNBC, CNBC

UNITED NATIONS – In his address before world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump slammed Iran alleged role in the recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities and called on other nations to pressure Tehran into diplomatic talks.

” All nations have a duty to act, “Trump said in regards to countering Iranian behavior. “No responsible government should subsidize Iran blood lust. As long as Iran menacing behavior continues, sanctions will not be lifted, they will be tightened,” he added.

14 strikes on the world’s largest crude-processing plant and oil field forced the kingdom to shut down half of its production operations. What’s more, the event triggered the largest spike in crude prices in decades and renewed concerns of a budding conflict in the Middle East. While Tehran has been widely blamed for the attacks in Saudi Arabia it maintains that it was not involved.

On Friday,the Trump administration sanctioned Iran central bankin retaliation for the attacks. The Pentagon then announced a deployment of U.S. forces to the Middle East.

“The president has approved the deployment of US forces which will be defensive in nature and primarily focused on air and missile defense,” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said, adding that Saudi Arabia requested the support. “We will also work to accelerate the delivery of military equipment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to enhance their ability to defend themselves,” he added.

Read more:Pentagon will deploy US forces to the Middle East after attack on Saudi oil facilities

Similarily, Esper reiterated that the United States does not seek a conflict with Iran and called on Tehran to return to diplomatic channels. He also said that there could be additional U.S. deployments if the situation were to escalate.

The Pentagon called the attacks on the Saudi oil facilities“sophisticated” and represented a “dramatic escalation”in tensions within the region.

Last week, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said thatdrone and missile debris recovered by investigators shows Iranian culpability. Saudi coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said during a Sept. 18 press briefing in Riyadh that all military components retrieved from the oil facilities “point to Iran. “

Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have both said that they will not meet on the sidelines of the UN despite being in close proximity this week. Rouhani is slated to address the U.N. delegation on Wednesday.