The American allegations that Iran was responsible for last week’s attack on Saudi oilfields received significant international support when European allies Germany, the United Kingdom and France released a statement asserting “there is no other plausible explanation” except that Iran bears responsibility. But despite the show of unity on the matter of the attack that sent repercussions throughout the world energy industries, the signatories’ statement was clear in maintaining distance from the Trump administration on the larger issue, the American withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear development agreement and urging the parties to work to ease tensions. The issue is a primary subject of discussion as delegates from around the world gather in New York for the annual opening sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. Iranian President Rouhani’s speech is one of the hottest tickets in the UN as he is expected to deny his country had anything to do with the Saudi attack. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has already gone on record with his argument that if Iran carried out the attack the target would have been destroyed, not damaged. He added that it would be foolish to launch a raid on the eve of the UN sessions. While speculation remains rife that there will be some form of US-Iranian contact in Turtle Bay, Zarif continued to insist that it won’t happen.
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