The U.S. Deploys More "Patriot" Systems to the Middle East to Protect Oil and Gas Facilities

According to a report by the U.S. Axios news website on October 1, in recent weeks, the United States has deployed two sets of "Patriot" missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect local oil and gas production facilities.

The report cites two U.S. officials and regional sources saying that the U.S. military deployed one set of "Patriot" missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia in September to protect a key oil production facility, while another set was deployed in Qatar to protect a natural gas production facility.

The report states that the U.S. "hopes to assure its two regional allies that once President Trump decides to restart significant military operations against Iran, the U.S. will protect their critical energy facilities."

The report says that if Trump decides to restart large-scale military operations against Iran, the U.S. will need Saudi Arabia's permission to use its airspace. However, if Saudi Arabia feels that its oil facilities are not adequately protected, it is "unlikely" to grant permission.

The report also mentions that Saudi and Qatari leaders persuaded Trump in early August not to launch large-scale strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure and expressed concerns about potential retaliatory strikes by Iran against Saudi and Qatari energy facilities.

Additionally, the report states that the U.S. aircraft carrier strike group "Roosevelt" quietly left San Diego, California, on September 27 and is expected to arrive in the Middle East around mid-November. This means that the U.S. military could have up to three aircraft carrier strike groups in the Middle East at that time.

In an interview published in Time magazine on October 1, Trump stated that after the U.S. midterm elections in November, he "may" order a more significant strike against Iran.