Trump says Iran likely responsible for attack on vital Saudi oil pipeline

Saudi Oil Pipeline Shut After Drone Strikes as Regional Tensions Deepen

Activelifezero.com – Saudi Arabia has closed a crucial oil pipeline after a series of drone attacks caused injuries and damage, adding fresh pressure to energy markets already disrupted by the continuing conflict involving Iran and the United States.

The East-West Pipeline, a major route connecting Saudi oil fields to the Red Sea coast, was hit by several drones that originated in Iraq on Thursday, Saudi authorities said Friday. The shutdown was described as a precaution while specialists secure the route and examine the extent of the damage.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran was likely involved, though responsibility for the strikes has not been established. Speaking to journalists during a visit to Dublin, Trump was asked whether Tehran was behind the attack.

“I think they are, probably they are,” Trump told journalists.

Iran has not been publicly identified as the confirmed perpetrator. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for Iran-backed militia groups operating in the country, denied involvement in the drone operation.

A critical alternative to the Strait of Hormuz

The attack highlights the growing vulnerability of Saudi Arabia’s oil-export infrastructure. The East-West Pipeline has taken on exceptional importance since the outbreak of the US-Iran war, particularly as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to normal oil-tanker traffic.

Rather than sending crude directly through the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia has redirected roughly 5 million barrels of oil per day through the pipeline. The system carries oil westward to Yanbu, a Saudi port on the Red Sea, allowing shipments to continue without relying on the Strait of Hormuz.

That role makes the route more than a domestic energy asset. It has become a central part of Saudi Arabia’s ability to sustain exports during a period of heightened danger in the Gulf and major uncertainty across maritime trade routes.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said Thursday’s attacks involved multiple strikes and led to several injuries. Officials said work was under way to protect the pipeline and determine whether it remained safe for operation.

Even a temporary interruption at the facility could reverberate through oil markets because it narrows the number of routes available for Saudi crude to reach international buyers. The closure also comes as shipping in the region faces overlapping risks, from the conflict surrounding Iran to attacks and territorial advances by the Houthis in Yemen.

Red Sea pressure compounds Saudi concerns

Tehran’s allies in Yemen, the Houthis, have recently taken control of a strategically important island and a port in the Red Sea. Their gains have intensified concerns about the security of shipping lanes near Saudi Arabia’s western coast and the wider passage between the Red Sea and global markets.

Saudi Arabia has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government in its conflict with the Houthis, placing the kingdom at the center of an increasingly complicated regional security crisis. The drone attack on the pipeline now raises the prospect that Saudi energy facilities and export routes could face pressure from several directions at once.

Trump said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he called a “good friend.” A person familiar with the conversations said the crown prince spoke with Trump twice on Thursday and urged the US president to strike the Houthis as the group moved closer to the Red Sea. Trump declined that request.

Asked whether he could help safeguard shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the pipeline closure, Trump sought to reassure observers that the situation would be resolved.

“Everything will work out fine,” Trump said.

The White House said Washington remained in contact with Saudi Arabia and was concentrating on major US security priorities, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, while encouraging regional partners to take the lead in addressing security challenges.

Iraq opens urgent investigation

Iraq’s government condemned the attacks and said it had ordered an immediate inquiry into those responsible. Iraqi officials said the country would not permit its territory or airspace to be used for operations of this kind.

Authorities in Iraq announced Saturday that several borders had been closed as a precaution. The move reflects concern that the conflict could widen further and draw neighboring states more directly into a confrontation already affecting vital transport and energy corridors.

For Saudi Arabia, the immediate task is to establish the condition of the East-West Pipeline and restore confidence in the safety of its export network. The broader challenge is more difficult: protecting oil infrastructure while maritime chokepoints remain under strain and armed groups retain the ability to threaten facilities far from the front lines.

The episode underscores how quickly regional fighting can affect global energy supplies. Saudi production capacity, pipeline routes, Red Sea ports and Gulf shipping lanes are tightly linked. When one route is blocked or placed at risk, pressure shifts to the alternatives, making those systems more consequential and potentially more exposed.

With no clear end to the Iran war and uncertainty still surrounding the origin of the drone strikes, the pipeline closure is likely to remain a significant concern for Saudi officials, shipping companies and countries dependent on energy flows from the region.