- Title: France: "not very credible" that Yemenis attacked Saudi oil plants
- Date: 19th September 2019
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) PRESENTATION BY SAUDI DEFENCE OFFICIALS SHOWING SCREEN READING (English): "ABQAIA OIL PROCESSING FACILITY SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE" VARIOUS OF DEBRIS AND REMNANTS OF WEAPONS ALLEGEDLY USED AGAINST ARAMCO FACILITIES
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2019 10:22
- Keywords: Aramco Saudi Arabia Le Drian Houthis Yemen U.S. war
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE/ ABQAIQ, KHURAIS AND RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: PARIS, FRANCE/ ABQAIQ, KHURAIS AND RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: France
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA003AXBQ2X3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:France on Thursday (September 19) appeared to dismiss claims by Yemeni Houthi rebels that they were behind an attack on Saudi oil facilities, and said Paris would renew efforts to defuse tensions between the U.S. and Iran at next week's U.N. General Assembly.
France has been scrambling with its European partners to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran for months, but last weekend's attack has jeopardised those efforts, diplomats have said.
The Trump administration and Saudi Arabia have pointed the finger at Iran for the Sept. 14 raids, which hit the world's biggest crude oil processing facility and initially knocked out half of Saudi output.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for the attack. Iran, which supports the Houthi group, has denied any involvement in the attacks.
"Yemen's rebels have announced they have triggered this attack. That is not very credible, relatively speaking," the minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, told C News television.
"There is an international investigation, let's wait for its results. I don't have a specific opinion before there are results," he said, adding the investigation into the Saudi oil attacks will be fast.
The Trump administration and Saudi Arabia have pointed the finger at Iran for the raids, which hit the world's biggest crude oil processing facility and initially knocked out half of Saudi output.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described as an act of war on the kingdom, an assessment that Le Drian echoed.
Iran, which supports the Houthi group, has denied any involvement in the attacks.
(Production: Michaela Cabrera) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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