Saudi Arabia has shared intelligence with American officials that suggests Iran could be preparing for an imminent attack on the kingdom, three U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The heightened concerns about a potential attack on Saudi Arabia come as the Biden administration is criticizing Tehran for its crackdown on widespread protests and condemning it for sending hundreds of drones — as well as technical support — to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine.
“We are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis,” the National Security Council said in a statement. “We will not hesitate to act in the defense of our interests and partners in the region.”
Requests for comment were not immediately answered by Saudi Arabia. Neither did Iran’s representative to the UN.
It was a credible threat of an assault
It was a credible threat of an assault “soon or within 48 hours,” according to one of the individuals who verified the intelligence sharing. Based on the intelligence, no American embassy or consulate in the region has sent warnings or instructions to Americans living in Saudi Arabia or other countries in the Middle East. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make public comments.
Asked about reports of the intelligence shared by the Saudis, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said U.S. military officials “are concerned about the threat situation in the region.”
“We’re in regular contact with our Saudi partners, in terms of what information they may have to provide on that front,” Ryder said. “But what we’ve said before, and I’ll repeat it, is that we will reserve the right to protect and defend ourselves no matter where our forces are serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere.”
In 2019, a significant strike in eastern Saudi Arabia, which cut the oil-rich country’s output in half and raised energy prices, was attributed by the United States and Saudi Arabia to Iran. Although the Iranians denied responsibility for the attack, Russian forces are already using the same triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying drones in their conflict with Ukraine.