LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs State Minister Adel Al-Jubier said the European Union is right in blaming Iran for attacking Aramco’s facilities, stressing that Tehran does not respect the sovereignty of states nor international law.
In remarks made on Monday at a London-based think tank, Al-Jubeir stressed that Saudi Arabia is “convinced through evidence it has (collected) that Iran is involved in the Aramco attacks.”
The Arab coalition fighting to restore the internationally-recognized government in Yemen said an attack on Saudi Arabia on Sept. 14, which triggered the biggest jump in oil prices in almost 30 years, was carried out with Iranian weapons. However, Tehran denies responsibility and the Iranian-backed Houthi militia claimed it was behind the attack.
Following the attack, Britain, Germany and France backed the United States and blamed Iran for the attack on the Kingdom’s oil facilities, urging Tehran to agree to new talks with world powers on its nuclear and missile programs and regional security issues.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also thanked the European nations for their statement blaming Iran, saying, “This will strengthen diplomacy and the cause of peace.”
Al-Jubeir said Iranian arms are being extended to a number of Arab states.
He said the attack on Aramco facilities reflect Tehran’s hostile intentions in the region, adding: “we are convinced that the missiles that had hit the Saudi oil facilities were Iranian.”
Regarding the Iranian nuclear deal, the Saudi minister said that it has “flaws” as it “does not include Iran’s ballistic missile activity and its hostile interventions in regional affairs.”
“We frequently said we do not want a war, but we remain arms folded in the face of such attacks,” Al-Jubeir said.
EU countries right to blame Iran for Saudi Aramco attacks: Al-Jubeir
EU countries right to blame Iran for Saudi Aramco attacks: Al-Jubeir
- The Kingdom is convinced Iran was behind the Sept. 14 attack from evidence collected
- Al-Jubeir says attack on Aramco facilities reflect Tehran’s hostile intentions in the region
Report: Low light pollution in Northern Borders is ideal for astronomers
- Region has a vast desert horizon and few tall buildings
- Rare meteorological event recently in Northern Borders
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Northern Borders, characterized by significantly lower levels of light pollution, is a prime destination for astronomical observation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The SPA quoted from a recent report from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite which is circling in space.
The VIIRS is a whiskbroom scanner radiometer that collects imagery and radiometric measurements of land, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans in the visible and infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
This lower level of light pollution, according to the VIIRS, is found in the open areas surrounding Turaif, east of Rafha, and west of the city of Arar.
The Bortle Scale, which measures night-sky brightness, shows readings allowing the Milky Way to be seen with the naked eye on clear nights.
“The vast desert horizon and the scarcity of tall buildings contribute to improved astronomical observation conditions by minimizing ambient light and enhancing viewing quality,” the SPA reported.
“This allows celestial phenomena, such as meteor showers and planetary conjunctions, to be observed with greater precision.”
The report added: “Due to these factors, the region is an ideal destination for amateur astrophotographers and astrophysicists seeking a dark, expansive sky that enables them to observe celestial objects with greater clarity.”
Recently a striking astronomical and optical phenomenon was observed in the Northern Borders, as light pillars appeared in the sky, drawing the attention of locals and enthusiasts of natural phenomena.
A light pillar is an optical phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere as a vertical column extending above or below its source. This effect is caused by the reflection of light on tiny ice crystals suspended in clouds or the air.
Abouazza El-Mhamdi, an associate professor in the physics and astronomy department at King Saud University, told Arab News at that it was a “rare meteorological event — the vibrant light pillars that illuminated the night sky, was crucial for astronomy and astro tourism in the region.”
“Although these pillars are common in Arctic climates like Canada or Russia, their appearance in the Northern Border region is a remarkable anomaly, highlighting the unique and intense winter conditions affecting the Kingdom’s northern reaches,” said El-Mhamdi.
