Trump Says Iran Was ‘Probably’ Behind Attack on Vital Saudi Oil Pipeline
Dublin, Ireland — President Donald Trump said Iran was “probably” behind a drone attack that shut down a vital Saudi oil pipeline, escalating concerns about the safety of energy infrastructure and shipping routes as the Iran war grinds on.
The East-West Pipeline was attacked Thursday by several drones launched from Iraq, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said Friday. The strike caused injuries and damage, and the Energy Ministry said the pipeline was shut down as a precaution. It was not immediately clear who launched the drones.
The incident comes amid turmoil in energy markets and major disruption to shipping, with no end in sight to the Iran war. Tehran’s allies in Yemen, the Houthis, have seized a key island and a port in the Red Sea, further complicating regional security.
Trump pointed to Iran when asked about the attack by a reporter during a visit to Ireland on Saturday. “I think they are, probably they are,” he told journalists in Dublin.
A key umbrella group of Iran-backed militias in Iraq, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, denied responsibility. No group has publicly claimed the attack.
For Saudi Arabia, the strike is another headache. The kingdom has backed Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis, and its oil exports depend heavily on secure routes to market.
Trump said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he called a “good friend.” A source told CNN that the crown prince spoke twice with Trump on Thursday and urged him to strike the Houthis as the Iran-backed group advanced toward the Red Sea. Trump declined, the source said.
Asked about fresh concerns in Saudi Arabia after the pipeline closure and whether the United States could help move marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said everything would “work out fine.”
Responding to CNN’s questions about the calls, the White House said the United States was in touch with the Saudis and “focused on protecting our core national security interests— such as ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea — while empowering our regional partners to take the lead in managing and resolving regional security challenges.”
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said the pipeline “was subjected to multiple attacks” on Thursday that “resulted in a number of injuries.” Teams were “taking the necessary measures to secure the pipeline and assess its safety,” the statement added.
The Iraqi government condemned the attacks, saying it had ordered an urgent investigation and would not allow its territory or airspace to be used for such purposes. On Saturday, Iraqi authorities said they had closed a number of borders as a precaution.
The strike and recent Houthi advances along the Red Sea signal that Saudi Arabia’s oil resources — and its ability to export them — are facing growing threats as the Iran war continues.
A satellite image showed a small fire burning at a pumping station near Al Dhekra, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, according to Planet Labs.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline has become vital for maintaining oil exports since the outbreak of the US-Iran war. With Iran effectively shuttering the Strait of Hormuz, the kingdom has rerouted about 5 million barrels of oil per day that would have been destined for waiting tankers in the Persian Gulf. That oil now travels through the pipeline to Saudi Arabia’s port of Yanbu on the Red Sea.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Katie Bo Lillis, Thomas Bordeaux and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.
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