Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warns of 'all-out war'

Any attack by the United States or Saudi Arabia on Iran will result in an all-out war, Tehran warned on Thursday. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comments as tensions in the Gulf continue rise after attacks on Saudi Arabias oil infrastructure halted the production of about five percent of the worlds oil supply. Yemens Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for Saturdays strikes on Saudis oil facilities, but the United States alleged the attack involved cruise missiles from Iran and amounts to an act of war. The US has said its military is locked and loaded to respond against the perpetrators. We dont want war, we dont want to engage in a military confrontation, Zarif told CNN on Thursday, noting it would lead to a lot of casualties. But we wont blink to defend our territory, he added. Making it up Asked about the consequence of an American or Saudi military strike on Iran, Zarif responded: An all-out war. Saudi Arabia, which has been bogged down in a bloody five-year conflict in neighbouring Yemen, said on Wednesday that Iran unquestionably sponsored the attacks and the weapons used were Iranian-made - but did not directly blame its regional rival. Theyre making that up, Zarif responded. Now they want to pin the blame on Iran, in order to achieve something. And that is why Im saying this is agitation for war because its based on lies, its based on deception. Iran has repeatedly denied US and Saudi accusations of its involvement in Saturdays strikes, saying the Houthis hit the oil facilities in response to the Saudi-Emirati-led military coalitions ongoing attacks in Yemen. The strikes on Saudi energy giant Aramcos Abqaiq processing plant and Khurais oilfield halved the kingdoms oil output. A senior advisor to Irans top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on Gulf countries to come to their senses, Irans semi-official Fars news agency reported. They [US and Saudi Arabia] have realised that playing with the tail of a lion is highly dangerous and that if they take action against Iran at any time, they know there will be no tomorrow for them in the region, Fars quoted Hossein Dehghan as saying. Act of war After meeting with allies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was an enormous consensus in the region that Iran carried out Saturdays attacks, despite its denials. I didnt hear anyone in the region who doubted that for a single moment, he told reporters. Despite earlier condemning the strikes as an act of war, Pompeo said he was in the Gulf looking to achieve peace. Wed like a peaceful resolution. I think weve demonstrated that, he said. Were here to build out a coalition aimed at achieving peace. I hope the Islamic Republic of Iran sees it the same way. The oil strikes have reignited fears over a wider conflagration in the region, as tensions remain high over the collapsing nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Tehran has warned the United States it would retaliate immediately if targeted. In a tweet, Zarif accused US allies and some American officials of trying to deceive President Donald Trump into entering a war with Iran. For their own sake they should pray that they wont get what they seek, he said. The US military said on Thursday it was consulting with Saudi Arabia on ways to mitigate threats. A Pentagon spokesman, speaking at a news briefing, declined to say whether the US military believed the drone and missile attack was launched from Iranian territory, deferring to Saudi Arabias ongoing assessment. Were not going to get ahead of them on that, spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said. Trump on Wednesday struck a cautious note, saying there were many options short of war with Iran. He ordered more sanctions on Tehran, which Iran has called economic terrorism. Al Jazeera

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Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warns of 'all-out war'