Iran has attacked the key East–West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia
According to two sources familiar with the situation, the East-West oil pipeline, which transports crude oil from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea for onward export, has been attacked. This is reported by The Public, citing the Financial Times.
One of the sources said that at around 13:00 local time on Wednesday, a pumping station – one of several along the 1,200-kilometre pipeline – was hit. This pipeline has become a vital part of Saudi Arabia’s economy following the near-total restriction of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to available information, the attack was carried out using a drone. The extent of the damage is currently being assessed.
The state-owned company Saudi Aramco, which owns and operates the pipeline, declined to comment. Previously, the company had redirected oil exports to the Red Sea via this route to avoid passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The attack on the infrastructure occurred a few hours after a ceasefire agreement was reached between Iran and the US, concluded on Tuesday evening US time.
The East-West oil pipeline was built in the 1980s amid fears of a possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-Iraq ‘tanker war’.
