RIYADH: The US is continuing to weigh its options toward Iran as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln heads toward the Middle East, amid heightened tensions and widespread protests across the Islamic Republic.
The deployment, reported since late Friday, comes as Washington reiterates that all options remain on the table in its approach to Tehran, which it considers a major regional foe, with Iran’s handling of the protests as a key factor in their ongoing deliberations.
Saudi officials have rejected claims that Riyadh is attempting to influence decision-making in Washington.
A senior Saudi official at the Kingdom’s embassy in the US said that reports suggesting Saudi Arabia had advised the US against striking Iran “are not true.”
Earlier this week, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir was asked about the unrest in Iran and the prospect of a US response during a major business conference in Riyadh.
