US defense officials were ordered to plan potential responses to the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities in a Monday meeting with President Donald Trump, but the White House is waiting for the Kingdom’s rulers to decide on a response before charting a path forward, administration officials and sources familiar their thinking tell CNN.
Two US defense officials said that the Pentagon was instructed to “plan” at the White House meeting, but added that no detailed choices were presented.
A source familiar with White House discussions said the administration feels time is on its side as it builds a case against Iran, which has denied responsibility for the attacks. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night to consult with rulers there and the source said nothing will be done until Pompeo has returned and Trump’s national security team has assembled.