Saudi Arabia oil attacks: Trump warns US could 'do some dastardly things' as he steps up retaliation threat

Donald Trump has warned that the US could “do some dastardly things” as he stepped up his treat of retaliation over the recent attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities.

The president was asked about claims his “measured” response to Iran, which the Saudis claim is behind the attacks at the weekend, so far this year has been seen as a “sign of weakness”.

Speaking to reporters alongside his new national security adviser Robert O'Brien on Wednesday, Mr Trump responded to the claim made by senator Lindsey Graham by saying: “Actually, I think it’s a sign of strength.

"We have the strongest military in the world now.”

Mr Trump added: “There’s plenty of time to do some dastardly things.”

The US leader earlier warned that it was "looking like" Iran was responsible for the attacks on key oil installations in Saudi Arabia, but he said does not want war.

He had said the US was not looking at retaliatory options until he has "definitive proof" that the Middle Eastern country was responsible. But he told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that the US "is prepared" if the attacks warrant a response.

The Saudis have displayed what they say are cruise missiles and drones as “material evidence” of Iran's responsibility for the recent attack on oil facilities.

The Abqaiq facility and the Khurais oil field were attacked in the early hours of Saturday, causing a reduction of more than half in Saudi Arabia's daily oil exports - more than 5 per cent of the world's daily production.

Officials said the missile, which had what appeared to be a jet engine attached to it, was a land attack cruise missile that failed to explode.

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Iranian missiles and drones were used to attack oil sites, say Saudis

Iran's president and foreign minister was also expected skip next week's high-level meetings at the United Nations as the US has yet to issue them visas, IRNA reported.

The UN meeting had been considered as an opportunity for direct talks between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Mr Trump amid a summer of heightened tensions and attacks.

It comes after America's pulled out of Iran's nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the Middle Eastern country.

Saudi Arabia also said on Wednesday that it had joined a US-led coalition to secure the Middle East's waterways amid threats from Iran, while Mr Rouhani told Saudi Arabia it should see the attack as a warning to end its years-long war in Yemen.