Iran says it’s ‘counting the moments’ until it can strike U.S. warships; Saudi Aramco facilities attacked
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Aramco reportedly came under fresh attack overnight.
Key points
- Saudi Aramco administrative building in Dhahran was hit overnight, causing a fire but no injuries.
- IRGC chief Ali Ozmaei said Iran is 'counting the moments' until it can sink U.S. warships.
- A cargo ship reportedly sank in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine; Centcom denied Iranian control of the strait.
Saudi officials said Wednesday that an administrative building belonging to oil giant Saudi Aramco was targeted overnight in the city of Dhahran on the country's eastern coast. The strike caused a fire but no injuries were reported, according to a statement from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy.
The attack came as the Tehran-backed Houthi militants step up strikes on the kingdom. Over the past week, airport attacks in Riyadh led to multiple fatalities, flight cancellations and property damage. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remains closed until Saturday.
Iran threatens U.S. warships
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Ali Ozmaei said Wednesday that Tehran is 'counting the moments' until it can sink American warships, according to Iranian state-affiliated media. In a televised interview, he reportedly said, 'If the Americans think the Strait of Hormuz is open, let them come closer. We are impatient to sink American warships.'
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Iran has been strengthening defenses around sensitive sites like nuclear facilities and telling regional officials it will retaliate across the Middle East for any new U.S. strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that American forces would not attack Iran before the midterm election on Nov. 3.
If the Americans think the Strait of Hormuz is open, let them come closer. We are impatient to sink American warships.
— Ali Ozmaei
Maritime incidents in the strait
On Wednesday, reports emerged that a cargo ship caught fire and sank in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine while attempting to transit the waterway. CNBC could not independently verify the reports.
Later Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said a 'verified source' reported a container ship was struck by an 'unknown projectile.' U.S. Central Command refuted Iranian claims that the strait is under Iran's control, saying American forces and regional partners clearly control it and that U.S. forces had assisted in shipping over 19 million barrels of crude oil through the strait the previous day.
