U.S. concerned about Iranian threats to Saudi Arabia - Reuters.com

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The United States is acrophobic astir threats from Iran against Saudi Arabia and volition not hesitate to respond if necessary, a White House spokesperson said connected Tuesday.

"We are acrophobic astir the menace picture, and we stay successful changeless interaction done subject and quality channels with the Saudis," said the spokesperson from the National Security Council. "We volition not hesitate to enactment successful the defence of our interests and partners successful the region."

The authoritative spoke aft the Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia has shared quality with the United States informing of an imminent onslaught from Iran connected targets successful the kingdom.

The Saudi authorities media bureau did not instantly respond to a Reuters' petition for comment.

The apical commandant of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, connected Oct. 20 issued what helium described arsenic a warning to Saudi leaders not to trust connected Israel and mentioned their "glass palaces".

Riyadh had blessed U.S.-brokered pacts nether which 2 of its Gulf allies forged ties with Israel successful 2020 successful a determination that created a caller determination anti-Iran axis, but besides launched nonstop talks with Tehran past twelvemonth successful a bid to incorporate tensions amid Gulf uncertainty implicit U.S. committedness to the region.

Saudi Arabia had blamed Iran for a 2019 rocket and drone battle connected its lipid plants, a complaint Tehran denies. The starring Sunni Muslim and Shi'ite powers person been locked successful rivalry for decades, backing allies warring proxy wars crossed the region.

The latest concerns travel astatine a clip of strained relations betwixt Riyadh and Washington aft the Saudi-led OPEC+ confederation past period decided to chopped lipid output targets, which raised fears of a gasoline terms spike successful the United States.

President Joe Biden had said determination volition beryllium consequences for U.S. ties with Riyadh and respective senators urged the White House to frost each practice with Riyadh, including arms sales. Saudi Arabia relies heavy connected the United States for its security.

The United States has said Iran has supplied Russia with drones for usage successful its warfare against Ukraine, prompting Washington to acceptable speech efforts to resurrect the Iran atomic deal, which then-President Donald Trump abandoned successful 2018.

Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Josie Kao and Michael Perry

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