Pompeo: Iran attacked oil tankers to raise global oil price
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday blamed
Iran for attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, saying it was an effort by Tehran
to raise the global price of oil.
“These were efforts by the Iranians to raise the
price of crude oil throughout the world,” Pompeo told reporters shortly before
leaving on a trip to Europe.
He suggested he had seen evidence of Iran’s involvement
cited earlier on Thursday by White House National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Speaking in London, Bolton said evidence that Iran
was behind the attacks would be presented to the United Nations Security
Council next week.
Asked if he had seen the evidence, Pompeo said: “Oh
yes. Ambassador Bolton got it right.”
US envoy to Iran Brian Hook on Thursday warned that
the United States will respond with military force if its interests are
attacked by Iran.
