UN sends experts to Saudi Arabia to probe attacks on oil installations

UN experts are expected in Saudi Arabia to lead an international inquiry into the weekend attacks on oil installations in the kingdom, diplomats said on Wednesday.

"It's very good that an international probe will get underway," said one diplomat on condition of anonymity. 

The UN experts have been dispatched under the terms of a Security Council resolution on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, and another resolution on a Yemen arms embargo, the diplomats said.

The 2015 resolution stipulates that UN experts can be sent if military hardware made in Iran are found elsewhere. 

The Yemen resolution created an experts' committee on how the embargo is applied.

Those experts have been activated over the Saudi attacks because the Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the strikes, a diplomat said.

Riyadh said Wednesday the attacks were "unquestionably" sponsored by Iran.

Earlier, Germany said it was coordinating closely with France and the UK over the weekend attack on Saudi oil installations.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the three European nations would have a "close look at the data and...gather more information." He did not elaborate.

His comments came as the United States weighed its response to the attack.

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels say they carried it out. But Washington says Tehran was the culprit, and Saudi Arabia said "Iranian weaponry" was used.

Iran has denied being involved, and has threatened retaliation if attacked.