France, Germany and the United Kingdom agree with previous claims the United States and Saudi Arabia that Iran was behind the recent drone attacks that disrupted about half of Saudi Arabia’s oil capacity.
In a joint statement issued on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “it is clear to us that Iran bears responsibility for this attack,” adding that “the time has come for Iran to accept negotiation on a long-term framework for its nuclear programme as well as on issues related to regional security, including its missiles programme and other means of delivery.”
In response to the statement, Tehran once again denied involvement in the attack, which was claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the three European leaders were “parroting absurd US claims” and rejected new talks on its nuclear program. Zarif accused the countries of demonstrating “paralysis in fulfilling their obligations” under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that was abandoned by the United States last year.
Read more: Iran rejects fresh accusations over Saudi oil attack