Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the U.S. is working to find a diplomatic outcome to tensions with Iran, which has been blamed for an attack on Saudi oil facilities, but he warned if diplomacy fails President Donald Trump "will make necessary decisions to achieve our objectives."

Pompeo told the ABC News that the recent Trump administration decision to send additional U.S. military forces and air defense equipment to Saudi Arabia  will "improve the capabilities" and "will make it more difficult" for Iran. 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf area would create "insecurity in the region."

"Foreign forces can cause problems and insecurity for our people and for our region," Rouhani said in a live broadcast on state television. The Iranian leader said he plans to present at the United Nations a regional cooperation plan for peace.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the American forces in the region would be "defensive in nature." He added that the U.S. was responding to requests from Saudi and United Arab Emirates officials to improve their air and missile defenses after last weekend's attacks on Saudi Arabian oil installations. U.S. officials have said Iran was responsible, an allegation that Tehran denies.

US officials say Iran is responsible for the attack. Iran has denied the agreement.

Source: VOA