American officials expressed concerns Wednesday about an imminent threat by the Islamic Republic against Saudi Arabia, warning that it will not hesitate to respond if necessary.
"We are concerned about the threat picture and remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis. We will not hesitate to act in the defense of our interests and partners in the region,” said a spokesperson from the National Security Council of the White House.
The remarks came after the Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabian officials shared intelligence with American counterparts about attacks on targets in the government and in the Iraqi Kurdistan capital of Erbil, where American troops are currently located.
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder said during a press briefing to reports that the United States remains "concerned" about the "the threat situation in the region" and is "in regular contact" with Saudi officials.
"We will reserve the right to protect and defend ourselves no matter where our forces are serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere," Ryder stated.
The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the Islamic regime in Iran goes back to 1979, when the Ayatollahs came to power in Iran and immediately declared the Saudi Kingdom illegitimate, vowing to overthrow the leaders of the Persian Gulf state.
Under the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Saudi Arabia has combatted Tehran’s terrorist proxies like the Houthis in Yemen and its drones in the Persian Gulf, which have tested Saudi oil facilities and ships.
To prevent Iranian attacks against their interests, the Saudis have relied heavily on American military shipments to protect the Kingdom. However, with the announcement by the Saudi government to cut oil output, the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress have vowed to punish the Kingdom by potentially freezing American military shipments, which many say will severely cripple the national security relationship with Riyadh.
In mid-October, Iran warned Saudi Arabia against covering Iranian protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Islamic morality police on Persian news stations, accusing the Kingdom, Israel, and the U.S. of fomenting them. IRGC Commander Hossein Salami claimed that the Saudis are trying to provoke the Iranian youth and called on the Saudi government to control their media station or face severe consequences.
