Trump Blames Iran for Saudi Pipeline Attack, Sides with Authoritarian Regime
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President Donald Trump, continuing his unwavering support for Saudi Arabia's repressive monarchy, claimed Iran is likely behind the aerial strike that disrupted the kingdom's East-West oil pipeline. Trump emphasized his close relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, notorious for human rights abuses.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in a move that further cements his administration’s alignment with Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian regime, asserted that Iran is probably responsible for the aerial attack that disabled Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline—a vital route for crude exports that allows the kingdom to bypass the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
"I think they are, probably they are," Trump told reporters in Dublin when asked about Iran's involvement, once again offering speculation instead of evidence. He added that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he described as a "good friend," highlighting the administration’s cozy relationship with a leader widely condemned for his role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the brutal war in Yemen. Trump also mentioned that Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis had contacted his administration, indicating they do not want the United States directly involved in the conflict—a conflict fueled by U.S. arms sales and support for the Saudi-led coalition. "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," he said, glossing over the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by the Saudi blockade. The remarks were made during a press briefing in Dublin, with reporting from Dublin and London.