US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday (May 30th) that Iran was trying to raise the price of oil when it allegedly attacked oil tankers off the coast of the UAE, AFP reported.
Pompeo's remarks came a day after US national security advisor John Bolton said Iran was "almost certainly" behind the May 12th sabotage of four ships including two tankers from Saudi Arabia.
Iran strongly rejected Bolton's accusations.
"Yes, Ambassador Bolton got it right. These were efforts by the Iranians to raise the price of crude oil throughout the world," Pompeo said.
The US is seeking to end Iran's sales of oil, its key export, as part of a campaign to fight back against Tehran's regional interference.
