US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was to fly to Saudi Arabia Tuesday to discuss “possible retaliation” after Washington said it had “proof” that attacks on Saudi oil installations allegedly originated in Iran.

Vice President Mike Pence announced that Pompeo was on his way to Saudi Arabia to “discuss our response.”

“As the president said, we don’t want war with anybody but the United States is prepared,” Pence said in a speech in Washington.

“We’re locked and loaded and we’re ready to defend our interests and allies in the region, make no mistake about it,” he said, echoing President Donald Trump’s words on Monday.

The State Department, meanwhile, said Pompeo would meet Wednesday in Jeddah with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and then go to Abu Dhabi to see Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Pompeo will discuss “the recent attack on the kingdom’s oil facilities and coordinate efforts to counter Iranian aggression in the region,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

Source: AFP