Trump says Iran ‘probably’ behind Saudi East-West pipeline attack
DUBLIN — President Donald Trump said Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, that Iran was “probably” responsible for the aerial attack that shut Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, speaking to reporters during his Ireland visit, Reuters (via The Straits Times), the Washington Examiner, and Al Arabiya English reported.
“I think they are, probably they are,” Trump said when asked if Iran was behind the strike on the vital oil conduit, according to Reuters’ Dublin pool copy.
Trump said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he called a “good friend.” “I can just say everything’s going to work out fine and dandy. It’s going to be great,” he added, per the Washington Examiner; Iran International quoted him calling the crown prince “a good friend of mine” and saying, “Everything will work out fine.”
He also said Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis had contacted his administration and signaled they do not want the United States drawn in directly. “They would much prefer not having us involved, and they’re letting most ships go through. There’s just one country that they’re not too happy with, and we’ll get that straightened out,” Trump said, according to Reuters. The Examiner separately quoted him: “We have had discussions. The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us… They don’t want us to go after them and would much prefer not having us involved.”
Saudi Arabia has said drones launched from Iraq struck the East-West pipeline system — a Red Sea–bound bypass around the already-disrupted Strait of Hormuz — prompting a precautionary shutdown after injuries and damage. Iraq has opened an investigation and dismissed the head of Maysan Operations Command after probes tied launch activity to that province; Riyadh said it is holding off retaliation for now to give Baghdad room to act. Those earlier facts are already on our desk; Saturday’s news is the president’s public attribution.
Responsibility remains contested. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella of Iran-aligned factions, denied involvement Saturday, calling accusations “an honor we do not claim” and criticizing Baghdad for endorsing the charges too quickly, Rudaw and other regional outlets reported. No independent confirmation of the denial’s authenticity has been published by U.S. officials in the wire copy reviewed here.
A presidential “probably” is not a finished attribution — but it is a public finger pointed at Tehran over a chokepoint already under strain, while Washington says it is talking to the Houthis and betting Saudi ties will keep the bypass route from becoming another open front.
Sources
- The Straits Times / Reuters — Trump says Iran probably responsible for attack on Saudi pipeline, Sept. 12, 2026
- Washington Examiner — Trump says Houthis ‘don’t want to fight us’ after Saudi pipeline shutdown, Sept. 12, 2026
- Al Arabiya English — Trump says Iran probably responsible for attack on Saudi pipeline, Sept. 12, 2026
- Iran International — Trump says Iran likely behind Saudi pipeline attack, Sept. 12, 2026
- CNN — Trump says Iran probably responsible for attack on Saudi pipeline, Sept. 12, 2026
- The National — Trump says Iran ‘probably’ responsible for East-West pipeline attack, Sept. 12, 2026
- Rudaw — Kurdistan Region condemns drone attack; Islamic Resistance in Iraq denial, Sept. 12, 2026
- Insanity Developing — Iraq fires Maysan commander after drones from Iraq hit Saudi East-West pipeline
- Insanity Developing — Saudi Arabia temporarily shuts East-West oil pipeline after Thursday attacks
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