Pakistan condemns Saudi pipeline attack as Trump points to Iran, while Iraq says drones originated from its territory as regional tensions rise today.
Pakistan has condemned the attack on Saudi Arabia’s critical East-West oil pipeline as “reprehensible,” while President Donald Trump pointed toward Iran as the likely force behind the strike.
The attack has added another flashpoint to the widening U.S.-Iran conflict, with Saudi Arabia temporarily shutting down a major oil route after drones struck infrastructure in the Riyadh and Medina regions. Iraq has confirmed that the drones originated from its territory, where Iranian-backed militias operate.
Pakistan condemns Saudi pipeline attack
Pakistan, which has attempted to serve as a diplomatic bridge between Saudi Arabia and Iran, strongly condemned the attack on Saudi energy infrastructure.
Foreign Office spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan described attacks on the East-West pipeline as reprehensible and said targeting civilian infrastructure threatened regional peace and stability. Islamabad reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
Pakistan’s position comes as the country faces growing pressure to balance its close defense relationship with Saudi Arabia against its diplomatic efforts involving Iran.
The latest escalation also comes after Pakistan sought to encourage Iran to rein in its Houthi allies as attacks on Saudi targets intensified.
Trump points finger at Iran
Trump was asked Saturday whether Iran was responsible for the Saudi pipeline attack.
“I think they are, probably they are,” Trump told reporters in Dublin, signaling his belief that Tehran was ultimately connected to the strike.
The president also said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he described as a “good friend.”
Trump’s comments came despite the immediate evidence pointing to the drones having been launched from Iraqi territory. The connection between the attack and Iran remains a central question as investigators examine the role of Iran-aligned militias operating in Iraq.
Iraq confirms drones came from its territory
Iraq has acknowledged that the drones involved in the attack originated from Iraqi territory.
The confirmation has put additional pressure on Baghdad, particularly because Iran-backed armed groups maintain significant influence in parts of the country.
Iraq has launched an investigation and dismissed a military commander following the attack. The government has also taken steps affecting its border with Iran as authorities investigate those responsible.
Saudi Arabia has so far avoided immediate retaliation against Iraq, while reserving the right to take measures it considers necessary to protect its interests.
Saudi Arabia shuts major oil pipeline
The East-West pipeline stretches roughly 1,200 kilometers across Saudi Arabia and provides the kingdom with a crucial alternative route for moving crude toward the Red Sea.
That makes the pipeline particularly important during the current crisis because shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted by the conflict with Iran.
Saudi Arabia shut the pipeline as a precaution after the drone attack caused damage and injuries. The full effect on exports was still being assessed as officials evaluated the infrastructure.
The shutdown adds another threat to global energy markets at a time when oil supplies are already under pressure from attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure across the region.
Oil prices rise as regional risks grow
The pipeline attack has heightened concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s oil exports.
The East-West route can carry several million barrels of crude per day and was designed in part to allow Saudi exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. With both Hormuz and the Red Sea facing serious security threats, disruptions to the pipeline could further tighten global supplies.
The International Energy Agency has warned that the Middle East conflict is creating a major supply shock. Global oil prices have moved sharply higher as attacks on tankers, refineries and other energy facilities continue to disrupt normal trade routes.
Houthis add another threat to Saudi Arabia
The pipeline attack comes as Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement increases pressure on Saudi Arabia and regional shipping routes.
The Houthis have expanded their presence around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Their gains have raised concerns about another major chokepoint for global oil and commercial shipping.
Trump said the Houthis had contacted his administration and indicated that they did not want the United States to become directly involved. He added that most ships were being allowed through, although the Houthis remained hostile toward vessels from at least one country.
Pakistan faces a difficult diplomatic balancing act
The pipeline attack presents a particularly complicated challenge for Pakistan.
Islamabad has close security ties with Saudi Arabia while also attempting to maintain channels with Tehran. Pakistani officials have recently been involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the conflict from expanding.
Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, also held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about restoring diplomatic efforts and addressing the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters reporting.
For Islamabad, the challenge is to support Saudi security without being pulled directly into the broader U.S.-Iran conflict.
Pipeline attack raises stakes across Middle East
The Saudi pipeline strike has brought together several of the conflict’s most sensitive issues: Iran’s regional influence, Houthi attacks, Iraqi militias, Saudi oil exports and the security of global shipping.
While Trump has pointed to Iran as probably responsible, Iraq’s confirmation that the drones originated on its territory leaves questions about the precise chain of responsibility.
With Saudi Arabia keeping its response under review and diplomatic efforts continuing, the pipeline attack threatens to become another major test of whether regional powers can contain the conflict before disruptions to energy supplies and shipping grow even more severe.
