Trump says Iran is probably behind the Saudi pipeline attack as the oil route is closed.
US President Donald Trump said Iran was probably behind a drone attack that forced Saudi Arabia to briefly halt pumping through its strategically vital East-West oil pipeline, but no confirmed evidence has yet surfaced to show Tehran ordered or carried out the strike.
Multiple drones targeted the pipeline Thursday in an attack that Saudi Arabia and Iraq said originated from Iraq. The strikes caused casualties and damage, and as a precaution, Saudi authorities suspended operations while they inspected the infrastructure.
“I do,” Trump told reporters in Dublin on Saturday when asked if he thought Iran was responsible.
“I think they are; probably they are,” said Trump.
The remarks come amid the broader conflict involving the United States and Iran, which has been disrupting oil markets and major shipping routes across the region.
Saudi Arabia has not publicly accused Iran of the attack. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group comprising Iran-backed Iraqi militias, also denied responsibility.
Iraqi authorities have opened an investigation. Officials later fired at a military commander in charge of operations in Maysan province, claiming that the province had launched the drones. That gives the reported point of launch, but it does not by itself identify who ordered or operated the drones.
Saudi Arabia delays retaliation.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attack but held off on immediate retaliation at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom would give Baghdad the chance to investigate the incident and prevent future attacks from Iraqi territory, while reserving the right to take measures to protect its sovereignty and critical infrastructure.
Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen are also extending their influence around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is another security challenge for Saudi Arabia.
Yemeni government sources told Reuters the Houthis had taken control of the strategic Perim, or Mayun, Island at the entrance to the Red Sea. They have also moved further along some parts of the Red Sea coast of Yemen.
Trump said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who he called a “close friend.”
The crown prince spoke twice to Trump on Thursday, BNN reported, citing a source familiar with the discussions, and urged the US president to take military action against the Houthis. Trump refused, the report said.
When asked if the United States could help protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump gave a brief reassurance, saying the situation would “work out fine.”
The White House said the United States was in contact with Saudi Arabia and focused on protecting its national security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and supporting regional partners in addressing security threats.
Iraq probes the attack.
The Iraqi government condemned the strikes and said it would investigate who was responsible.
Later, Iraqi officials said an investigation found that the drones had launched from inside Maysan province. The response included sacking a military commander in charge of operations in the province.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied responsibility, saying it was prepared to participate in an investigation.
One important question the competing claims leave unanswered is who controlled the drones and ordered the attack.
Trump's claim that Iran was likely behind it, therefore, continues to be an assertion, not a finding.
Why pipeline numbers matter
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline stretches for about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) from the kingdom's oil-producing areas in the east to Yanbu on the Red Sea. This gives Saudi Arabia another way to ship crude without needing tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
During the current regional crisis, Saudi Arabia has increased the pipeline’s capacity. Saudi Aramco says it is running the plant at rates of up to 7 million barrels per day, of which about 5 million barrels would be available for export after feeding western Saudi refineries.
That route has become more significant after disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz sharply cut down maritime traffic.
The latest shutdown therefore threatens one of Saudi Arabia's main outlets for moving oil to international markets.
Saudi crude exports have already fallen sharply during the conflict, and the pipeline attack has added to the pressure on global energy supplies, Reuters reported. Brent crude was above $100 a barrel, as fears of prolonged disruptions intensified.
Saudi authorities have not provided a timetable for the eventual return to normal pipeline operations. How much damage was done, who was behind it, and whether there will be further strikes are key questions for the energy markets in the region.
