Iranian security officials including commanders of the Revolutionary Guards gathered in a meeting four months ahead of attacks on Saudi’s oil facilities to discuss how to punish US through its allies, Reuters reported on Monday.
“The main topic that day in May: How to punish the United States for pulling out of a landmark nuclear treaty and re-imposing economic sanctions on Iran, moves that have hit the Islamic Republic hard,” the report said.
According to the report, leader of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Major General Hossein Salami told other security officials that “it is time to take out swords and teach them a lesson.”
Iran’s hardliners have reportedly asked for attacking “high-value targets, including American military bases.”
What stop Iran from directly attacking Americans was allegedly a fear of devastative response from US military sources.
“Iran opted instead to target oil installations of America’s ally, Saudi Arabia, a proposal discussed by top Iranian military officials in that may meeting and at least four that followed,” the report added.
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil facilities on September 14 and temporarily stopped the country’s oil production.
Reuters for its report cited three anonymous Iranian officials, familiar to the meetings and another top official, who is close to the country’s decision makers.
