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

Trump Points to Iran After Drone Strike Shuts Key Saudi Oil Route

Earthguardiansonline.com – Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted operations on its strategically important East-West Pipeline after a drone attack caused injuries and damage, adding fresh pressure to regional energy supplies and shipping routes already strained by the continuing Iran war.

President Donald Trump said Iran was likely connected to the incident when questioned during a Saturday visit to Dublin, though responsibility for the attack has not been established.

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

Saudi officials said several drones launched from Iraq targeted the pipeline on Thursday. The Foreign Ministry confirmed the attack on Friday, while the Energy Ministry said the line was closed as a precaution while security and safety assessments take place.

A Critical Alternative to the Strait of Hormuz

The pipeline has taken on exceptional importance since the start of the US-Iran war. It gives Saudi Arabia a route across the kingdom to Yanbu, its Red Sea export terminal, reducing reliance on tankers waiting in the Persian Gulf.

Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced Saudi Arabia to redirect roughly 5 million barrels of oil each day that would normally have moved toward Gulf-loading facilities. Those volumes have instead been carried westward through the pipeline before reaching the Red Sea coast.

The interruption therefore raises concerns not only about the security of Saudi oil infrastructure, but also about the country’s ability to keep exports moving while maritime traffic faces growing obstacles. Energy markets have already been unsettled by the conflict and by severe disruption to commercial shipping.

In its statement, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said the line had faced multiple attacks on Thursday and that injuries were reported. Teams were deployed to secure the route and determine whether it is safe to resume service.

The pipeline “was subjected to multiple attacks” that “resulted in a number of injuries,” the ministry said.

No estimate of the damage or a timetable for restarting the pipeline was announced.

Claims and Denials Over Responsibility

While Trump suggested Tehran was probably behind the attack, the identity of those responsible remains unclear. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization for Iran-aligned militia groups, rejected any involvement.

Iraq’s government condemned the operation and said it had ordered an urgent investigation. Officials said Iraqi territory and airspace would not be permitted to serve as a base for attacks of this kind.

On Saturday, Iraqi authorities also said several national borders had been closed as a precaution. The decision underscores the wider security concerns surrounding the conflict, which has increasingly affected countries and transport corridors beyond the immediate fighting.

Saudi Arabia Faces Expanding Security Pressures

The strike comes as Saudi Arabia confronts threats on more than one front. The kingdom has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government in its conflict with the Houthis, an Iran-backed movement that has recently advanced toward the Red Sea.

Houthi forces have seized a key island and a port in that waterway, developments that have increased concern over access through one of the world’s most important maritime corridors. Together with the attack on the pipeline, those advances highlight the vulnerability of the infrastructure and sea lanes used to move Saudi oil to international buyers.

Trump said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he described as a “good friend.” A person familiar with the contacts said the crown prince spoke with Trump twice on Thursday and pressed for US strikes against the Houthis as they moved toward the Red Sea. Trump declined that request.

Asked whether the United States could assist the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz following the pipeline shutdown, Trump sought to reassure observers.

“Work out fine,” Trump said.

The White House said the United States remained in contact with Saudi Arabia and was concentrating on core national-security priorities, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, while encouraging regional partners to lead efforts to manage and resolve security challenges.

Why the Pipeline Matters Now

The East-West Pipeline is more than a domestic transport system. In the current crisis, it has become a crucial export lifeline because it connects oil-producing areas in the east of Saudi Arabia with the Red Sea coast. That route allows shipments to bypass the Persian Gulf at a time when passage through Hormuz has been severely constrained.

A prolonged shutdown could leave Saudi Arabia with fewer options for maintaining export flows. It could also deepen uncertainty for shipping companies, energy traders and countries dependent on supplies moving through the region. Even without an immediate assessment of production losses, the attack illustrates how quickly conflict-related risks can affect physical energy infrastructure.

Saudi authorities are continuing their safety review, while Iraq investigates the launch of the drones and regional governments assess the broader implications. The attack has intensified attention on the protection of pipelines, ports and maritime passages as the Iran war shows no sign of ending.