President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that “it’s looking like” Iran was behind this weekend’s attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia but suggested it was “too early to say for sure”.
He also said he was “not looking to get into new conflict, but sometimes you have to.”
“Well, it’s looking that way,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked if Iran was responsible. “We’ll let you know definitively. … That’s being checked out right now.”
Trump also insisted that he does not want war with Iran, but he noted the US has the best weapons systems, namely fighter jets and missiles.”
“The United States is more prepared” for a conflict than any country in history, he said. “”With all that being said, we’d certainly like to avoid it.”
Trump also indicated that the Saudis may have to pay if the US launches military action.
“The Saudis are going to have a lot of involvement in this if we decide to do something. They’ll be very much involved, and that includes payment,” he said.
The President also left the door open for diplomacy with Iran, saying that path has not yet been exhausted.
“No, it’s never exhausted. … You never know what’s going to happen. … I know they want to make a deal. … At some point it will work out,” he said.
Asked if he has promised the Saudis he will protect them, Trump said: “No, I haven’t promised the Saudis that.”
“We have to sit down with the Saudis and work something out,” he added.
Source: Agencies
