President Donald Trump suggested Sunday the United States is prepared to respond with force after coordinated strikes on a major Saudi oil field, which disrupted more than 5 percent of the world's oil supply.
"Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!" Trump said.
Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded de… https://t.co/KIcQ6LdQ90— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1568587806.0
Although Trump did not specify who is behind the attack, U.S. officials believe Iran coordinated the strikes, according to Reuters.
"There's no doubt that Iran is responsible for this. No matter how you slice it, there's no escaping it. There's no other candidate," a senior U.S. official told Reuters.
Tehran has denied the allegations, although top Iranian commanders said they are prepared for war.
Despite the denials, U.S. satellite imagery showed the attack did not come from the south — where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are located — but instead came from Iran's direction, the Associated Press reported.
The attack triggered a massive spike in oil prices, the biggest ever, according to Bloomberg News. When Asian markets opened for trading Monday, oil had jumped nearly $12 per barrel.
This story has been updated.