Saudi pipeline attack : Trump fingers Iran, says Houthis seek to avoid US involvement

United States President Donald Trump has said Iran was probably behind an aerial attack that forced Saudi Arabia to shut down its East-West oil pipeline, a major route for transporting crude without using the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the assertion on Saturday while speaking to reporters in Dublin, Ireland, where he was asked whether Tehran was responsible for the attack on the critical oil infrastructure.

“I ​think they are, probably they are,” Trump told ​reporters in Dublin when asked if Iran was responsible for the attack on the vital oil conduit.

The East-West pipeline, which runs across Saudi Arabia, provides an alternative route for the kingdom’s crude exports by allowing oil shipments to avoid the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also disclosed that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the incident, describing the Saudi royal as a “good friend.”

The attack comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran-aligned Houthi forces and shipping routes in the region, with the security situation raising concerns over the movement of oil and other commercial vessels.

Trump said Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis had contacted his administration and indicated that they did not want Washington to become directly involved in the conflict.

“They would much prefer not having us ​involved, and they’re letting most ships ​go ⁠through. There’s just one country that they’re not too happy with, and we’ll get ⁠that straightened ​out,” Trump added.

The development could further heighten concerns over the security of energy infrastructure and shipping routes in the Middle East, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial passage for global oil supplies.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is strategically important because it gives the world’s leading oil exporter an alternative export route to the Gulf and helps reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s comments, however, amount to an assessment rather than a definitive attribution of responsibility, as he said Iran was “probably” behind the attack.

(REUTERS)