BAGHDAD — Iraq’s government moved urgently Saturday to contain the fallout after Iran-backed militias were accused of attacking a vital Saudi oil pipeline, disabling the leading global oil producer’s alternative route to the Iranian-threatened Strait of Hormuz.
An umbrella group representing Iran-backed militias in Iraq denied responsibility. However, the Iraqi government confirmed that the attacks originated on its territory, promised a probe and removed two senior officials from their posts.
The strike on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline came as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen increased pressure on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. About 12% of global trade passes through the waterway, which the Houthis have targeted alongside Saudi Arabia and shipping in the region.
Regional officials told The Associated Press that the Houthis and Iraqi militias had recently coordinated attacks against Saudi Arabia.
With the developments threatening to push global oil prices even higher after six months of war, U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was “probably” behind the pipeline attack while seeking to ease concerns.
“The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us,” Trump said. “They would much prefer not having us involved, and they’re letting most ships go through.” He said his administration had held “discussions” with the Houthis, though neither he nor the White House specified when. The administration conducted at least one round of talks with the group in May 2025.
“We are not in war with Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis have their own problems,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told India Today TV on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India.
Iraq to investigate attack on Saudi pipeline
An alliance of Iran-backed Iraqi militias rejected allegations that it carried out the Saudi pipeline attack, while praising the Houthis for their “ongoing battlefield victories against Saudi forces.”
The group said it would cooperate with the Iraqi government’s investigation.
Baghdad is facing growing pressure to stop local militias from assisting Iran’s proxy groups. The government has given nonstate factions until Sept. 30 to disarm, but several of the most powerful militias—including Iran-backed groups—have said they will refuse to comply.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the operations command in Maysan province, which borders Iran, and dismissed the province’s commander. His office later announced that the provincial police chief had also been removed.
Saudi Arabia halted operations on the cross-country oil pipeline Friday, describing the move as a “precautionary measure” after the facility was targeted by drones the previous day. The kingdom said several drones had come from Iraq but ruled out retaliation, giving Baghdad “an opportunity to take the necessary measures.”
Several Arab countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt, condemned the attack, according to the Saudi state news agency.
Built in the 1980s, the East-West pipeline has played an important role in Saudi Arabia’s ability to export oil following this year’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. By early June, Saudi Arabia had more than doubled oil exports from the Red Sea port at the pipeline’s end to more than 5 million barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency.
Iran-backed Iraqi militias have carried out strikes on U.S.-linked targets both inside and outside Iraq since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.
Saudi Arabia and the United States bombed Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in July after blaming them for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities that had been claimed by the Houthis. Regional officials told the AP that the Houthis helped the militias plan and execute the attacks.
Meanwhile, in a decision possibly linked to the investigation of the pipeline attack, Iraq closed two key border crossings with Iran, Iraq’s state-run news agency reported.
Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor of Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, said Shalamcheh and Chazabeh crossings were closed.
Diplomacy continues in a tense region
Iran has said a regional meeting is planned Monday between Iran and other Gulf countries about talks between Tehran and Oman – located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz – on managing shipping there.
Commercial ship traffic remains low on what had been considered an international waterway before the war. Iran has expressed interest in having ships pay fees for transit. It has said traffic into the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman would pass entirely through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would pass partly through Iranian waters and partly through Oman’s territorial waters.
“The waterway would be opened up on the condition that the U.S. will terminate its blockade,” Iran’s president said in his interview with the Indian broadcaster.
Bahrain on Saturday, however, said it will not attend any group meeting including Iran before the restoration of diplomatic relations between the countries.
___
Jill Lawless and Darlene Superville in Dublin contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
