Saudi Arabia closed one of its major oil pipelines following drone attacks which are lately claimed responsibility by Iran-aligned Yemen rebels amid increased tensions between United States and Iran.
Last week Washington deployed missiles and bombers in Middle East and is in the process of sending 120,000 troops even though Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, “We fundamentally do no seek a war with Iran.”
Pompeo was addressing to press jointly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Sochi.
Saudi Arabia is the largest crude exporter in the world and it said early Tuesday its two pumping stations were attacked on Sunday.
The shut down stations lie on the East West Pipeline and has the capacity of pumping five million barrels of oil a day. It is located in the Eastern Province to a Red Sea port.
Saudi Arabia energy minister Khalid al-Falih said the shutdown is temporary and is intended to evaluate its condition following the attacks.
Falih however added that oil production as well as oil exports had not been interrupted with the shut down.
He said Sunday’s attack was an act of terrorism to target the Kingdom and also the security of oil supplies.
Yemen’s Huthi rebels spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam tweeted the attacks were in response to aggressors which have continued to commit genocide against Yemenis.
