Iran denies Saudi Arabia attack involvement after Tehran rejected accusations that it was behind projectiles launched from Iraq toward Saudi Arabia. An Iranian military official said Iran had no connection with attacks targeting the kingdom and dismissed the allegations as incorrect.
The Iranian official made the statement after Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed groups in Iraq of launching drones toward petroleum facilities in the kingdom’s Eastern Province. Saudi defence authorities said their air defence systems intercepted and destroyed several incoming drones.
Iran’s military official told state broadcaster IRIB that blaming Tehran for attacks against US interests in the region was a serious mistake. He said such claims were based on a misunderstanding of regional developments and rejected any link between Iran and the reported projectiles.
The controversy followed joint US-Saudi strikes against Iran-aligned groups in Iraq. The US Central Command said the operations targeted locations connected to attacks on American forces and Saudi energy infrastructure.
صرح المتحدث الرسمي باسم وزارة الدفاع اللواء الركن تركي المالكي أنه إلحاقاً للبيانين الصادرين من وزارة الدفاع يومي الاثنين (١٣ صفر ١٤٤٨هـ) والثلاثاء ( ١٤ صفر ١٤٤٨هـ) الموافقين ( ٢٧- ٢٨ يوليو ٢٠٢٦م) من أن الدفاعات الجوية اعترضت ودمرت عدداً من المسيّرات التي حاولت استهداف منشآت… pic.twitter.com/0Pei5KwSkQ
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) July 29, 2026
Saudi Arabia said the strikes were carried out in self-defence after attacks from Iraqi territory targeted its petroleum facilities. Riyadh cited Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and warned of further action if additional attacks were launched.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) said the US-Saudi strikes killed at least 20 of its members and injured 32 others. The group said its facilities in several Iraqi provinces, including Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk, and Diyala, were damaged.
The latest developments have increased tensions between regional actors as accusations continue over attacks and military responses. Iran’s denial and Saudi Arabia’s claims highlight ongoing disagreements over security issues in the Gulf and wider Middle East.
