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Officials describe how Iran planned the attack against Saudi Aramco: Report

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Nov 26, 2019, 05:14 PM IST
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Smoke is seen following a fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. Photograph:(Reuters)

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The whole purpose was to decide how to punish the United States for pulling out of the 2015 nuclear treaty.

Two facilities of the world's largest oil company Saudi Aramco were attacked by drones on September 14.

Saudi Arabia was forced to cut down its oil production by half. Over two months later, new details have emerged about the conspiracy behind the attack.

A special report by Reuters quotes four Iranian officials describing how Iran planned the attack against Saudi Aramco.

Since May, Iranian officials held about 5 meetings in a heavily guarded complex in Tehran.

The top brass of the Islamic revolutionary guard corps was also present including Major General Hossein Salami.

The whole purpose was to decide how to punish the United States for pulling out of the 2015 nuclear treaty.

They said: 'It's time to take out our swords and teach them a lesson'.

But, Iran realized that they would have devastating consequences and so, they decided to attack America's ally, Saudi Arabia.

They wanted to deliver a strong message to the United States.

Agreement on attacking Aramco was reached almost unanimously.

Officials wanted to display the might of Iran's military capabilities.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who attended one of the gatherings, approved the operation.

He only had one condition 'Don't hit any civilians or Americans.'

Iran ensured that its missiles and drone took different, circuitous paths to the oil facilities to hide its involvement.

But, the attack was launched from Iranian soil.

(With inputs from Reuters)