SAUDI STATE OIL COMPANY BUILDING DAMAGED
A conflict between Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia has escalated this month, enlarging the wider Middle East war.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said an administrative building belonging to state oil company Saudi Aramco in Riyadh had been damaged by falling debris after an attempted attack, with no injuries or fatalities reported.
Qatar, which has been mediating in talks to try to end the conflict that has shaken the world economy, on Saturday denied reports that the US and Iran had failed to reach a deal.
The Qatari prime minister had affirmed that both sides were continuing to work toward an agreement, it said.
Iran has submitted a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday, saying the US was reviewing it but discussions would depend on Washington first meeting Tehran’s seven demands.
These include sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and war reparations, while Washington insists nuclear issues must feature in initial talks.
On Saturday, the US military said it was launching a task force to crack down on the movement of advanced weapons and other sanctioned material to Iran via its land borders and the Caspian Sea — part of economic measures to try to pressure Tehran.
Iran‘s Revolutionary Guards dismissed the plan as “wordplay,” saying it would not work because Tehran had made preparations and communicated closely with its neighbours.
