Iranian strike hits Saudi East–West oil pipeline

Saudi Arabia’s critical East–West oil pipeline — currently the kingdom’s only operational outlet for crude exports — was struck in an Iranian attack, an industry source told Reuters on April 8, as regional tensions escalated and global energy markets reeled.

The pipeline, which transports crude from Saudi Arabia’s oil-producing eastern region to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, had been diverting around 7 million barrels per day (bpd). The rerouting followed Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which a significant share of global oil and gas supplies normally transit.

The source said flows through the pipeline are expected to be affected, with the extent of the damage still under assessment. Any prolonged disruption could intensify what analysts have described as the most severe global energy crisis in decades, as supply constraints drive prices higher.

Saudi Aramco uses approximately 2 million bpd of crude for domestic consumption, leaving around 5 million bpd available for export. According to shipping data, loadings from Yanbu averaged nearly 4.6 million bpd in the week beginning March 23, operating close to capacity despite earlier attacks targeting the export hub on March 19.

In a statement issued on April 8, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missiles and drones at multiple targets across the region. The IRGC claimed the strikes included oil facilities in Yanbu that it said belonged to American companies.

By Sabina Mammadli