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

Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

US President Donald Trump said Iran was “probably” behind the attack on a vital oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia which led to the pipeline’s closure.

The East-West Pipeline was attacked by several drones coming from Iraq on Thursday, the Saudi foreign ministry said Friday, resulting in injuries and some damage. The energy ministry that the pipeline had been attacked and was shut down as a precautionary measure.

Trump pointed the finger at Iran as most likely being behind the attack when asked about the incident by a reporter during a visit to Ireland on Saturday.

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

He added that he had held a call with Saudi Crown ​Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he referred to ​as ‌a “good friend.”

A source told CNN that the Saudi Crown Prince had spoken twice with Trump on Thursday and urged him to strike the Houthis as the Iran-backed group advances towards the Red Sea, but Trump declined.

Responding to a question about the fresh concerns in Saudi Arabia following the closure of the pipeline, and whether he could help move marine traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in light of the developments, Trump said everything will “work out fine.”

The development marked more bad news for the Saudi government after the Iran-backed Houthis captured strategic points along the Red Sea, bringing them close to controlling the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical energy route.

The strike and recent Houthi advances along the Red Sea signal that the kingdom’s oil resources — and its ability to export those resources — are facing increasing threats as the Iran war continues.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline has become vital for the country to maintain oil exports since the outbreak of the US-Iran war.

The kingdom has rerouted about 5 million barrels of oil per day that would have been destined for awaiting oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, as Iran effectively shuttered the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, that oil has traveled through the pipeline to Saudi Arabia’s port of Yanbu on the Red Sea.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with additional information.

CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Katie Bo Lillis, Thomas Bordeaux and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

美国总统唐纳德·特朗普表示，伊朗“很可能”是沙特阿拉伯一条重要输油管道遇袭事件的幕后黑手，该袭击导致该管道关闭。

沙特外交部周五表示，周四，来自伊拉克的数架无人机袭击了东西输油管道，造成人员伤亡和部分设施损坏。能源部称，该管道遭到袭击，并已出于预防措施而关闭。

周六，特朗普在访问爱尔兰期间，被记者问及这起事件时，他指责伊朗很可能是幕后黑手。

“我认为他们是，很可能就是，”特朗普在都柏林告诉记者。

他还补充说，他与沙特王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼通了电话，并称其为“好朋友”。

一位消息人士告诉 CNN，沙特王储周四与特朗普通了两次电话，敦促他对胡塞武装发动打击，因为这个由伊朗支持的组织正向红海推进，但特朗普拒绝了。

针对沙特阿拉伯因输油管道关闭而产生的新担忧，以及鉴于事态发展他是否能够帮助疏导霍尔木兹海峡的海上交通，特朗普回应说，一切都会“好起来的”。

这一事态发展对沙特政府来说无疑是雪上加霜。此前，伊朗支持的胡塞武装占领了红海沿岸的战略要地，使其距离控制重要的能源通道——曼德海峡仅一步之遥。

此次袭击以及胡塞武装最近在红海沿岸的推进表明，随着伊朗战争的持续，沙特阿拉伯的石油资源及其出口能力正面临越来越大的威胁。

自美伊战争爆发以来，沙特阿拉伯的东西输油管道对该国维持石油出口至关重要。

由于伊朗封锁了霍尔木兹海峡，沙特阿拉伯王国每天将原本运往波斯湾等待的油轮的约500万桶石油改道输送。这些石油现在通过管道输送到沙特阿拉伯位于红海沿岸的延布港。

这是一则突发新闻，我们将持续更新更多信息。

CNN的Kylie Atwood、Katie Bo Lillis、Thomas Bordeaux和Zachary Cohen对本报道亦有贡献。