Exclusive: Iranian officials say Israel carried out some of the drone strikes on Gulf energy sites
Iran Accuses Israel of Participating in Drone Strikes on Gulf Energy Infrastructure
Iranian authorities have alleged that Israel was responsible for certain drone strikes targeting energy and civilian facilities in the Arabian Gulf, framing the assaults as a deliberate strategy to inflame regional tensions and draw Arab nations into a broader conflict with Tehran.
A foreign ministry representative in Tehran confirmed to Middle East Eye that Israeli operatives were involved in several drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, while also asserting responsibility for at least one strike against Oman. The official, who asked for anonymity, stated,
“I can categorically say that some of the attacks were not carried out by us [Iran].”
The official did not specify which attacks attributed to Israel, though Saudi Arabia has reportedly faced at least five drone and missile strikes, with the Prince Sultan Air Base, Ras Tanura oil refinery, and the US embassy in Riyadh among the primary targets. Oman’s Duqm Port, a significant logistical hub accessible to the US Navy since 2019, was also struck twice.
Iranian sources further noted that Israel’s Mossad agency had participated in some of the drone strikes, revealing that Tehran had identified Mossad operations within the country. These sources indicated that authorities were actively searching for warehouses used by Mossad to store drones, vowing to “take them all out.” One official remarked,
“We would not be surprised if there are such warehouses and operational rooms in other countries in the region that Israel would use to target our Gulf neighbours from.”
Mossad is known for its extensive network of agents and logistics in Iran, facilitating attacks on critical targets. Past incidents include the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist with a remote-controlled weapon, cyber intrusions into Iran’s nuclear programme, and the seizure of a nuclear document archive.
Despite the accusations, Iranian officials have denied targeting Gulf energy facilities, emphasizing their focus on US assets. The recent conflict has disrupted Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s oil and gas exports and tarnished Dubai’s reputation as a secure destination for expatriates.
Meanwhile, Gulf Arab capitals are under growing US pressure to engage in a collective confrontation against Iran. The UAE has led calls within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab states to defend themselves against Iranian actions. During a Sunday video conference of GCC foreign ministers, the group reaffirmed that “the option to respond to Iranian attacks” for regional security remained viable.
Iranian leaders have underscored the intent behind the strikes, stating,
“Israel is intent on destroying the bilateral relations that Iran has built up with Gulf Arab countries with these attacks.”