TheUnited States' chief diplomat for Iran has characterized the Septembermissile and drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil installations as"an act of war by Iran."
Brian Hook saidin an interview aired by CNBC onDecember 14 that Washington will continue to strengthen its own militaryforces, as well as those of Saudi Arabia and other countries against probableattacks in the future.
"Because of theIran nuclear deal, we've been accumulating risk of a regional conflict — andwhat Iran did to Saudi Arabia on September 14 was an act of war," Hook toldCNBC in Qatar on Saturday.
Yemen's Houthisassumed responsibility for the attacks on oil installations in Eastern SaudiArabia, however, Saudis and U.S. and European officials have continued to blameTehran for the strike that halved Saudi Arabia's oil output at the time.
Although Iranwas named as the perpetrator of the attack, it was not directly accused of an aact of war.
Irancategorically denied the allegations, insisting that its forces were notinvolved.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres said in a December 10 report tothe Security Council that the organization had no independent confirmation theattacks had Iranian origin.
Reports in recent days have said Saudi Arabia is seeking ways toimprove ties with Iran.
